Toy Magnets Pose Serious Risk for Children, New Research Shows
Toy magnets continue to pose a significant danger to young children, even when parents are supervising playtime, according to new research. The study, set to be presented at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition, reveals that the number of children requiring emergency surgery to remove neodymium magnets is not decreasing, despite efforts to raise awareness about the risks.
Emergency medicine specialist Leah Middelberg of Nationwide Children’s Hospital led the research, which highlights the need to completely restrict access to magnets in order to prevent children from ingesting them. Pediatric surgeon Minna Wieck of UC Davis Children’s Hospital emphasized the severity of the issue, stating, “High-powered, rare-earth magnetic balls or beads are often sold as fun, stress-relieving toys, but they are among the most dangerous toys when kids eat them.”
Regardless of a child’s background or the level of parental supervision, magnets still pose a significant risk. The researchers found that children of various ages, including teenagers, have ended up in emergency rooms with magnet-related injuries. Even fake piercings containing powerful magnets can be swallowed by teens.
Once ingested, magnets have the ability to attract to each other or other objects within the body, causing serious complications. These can include perforations, twisted or blocked bowels, infections, or even blood poisoning. In the most tragic cases, it can lead to fatal outcomes.
Despite age restrictions, warning labels, and product recalls, these injuries continue to occur at an alarming rate. Middelberg and her colleagues analyzed patient data from 25 children’s hospitals in the US between 2017 and 2019, identifying 594 cases of magnet-related injuries in patients under the age of 21. Surprisingly, the majority of these injuries were documented in children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, who likely have greater access to high-powered magnet sets and parents who are more aware of the risks.
However, cases from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were found to be more severe, requiring surgical intervention, longer hospital stays, and readmissions. The researchers did not observe any differences in the time it took parents to seek care or the number of magnets swallowed or inserted by the patients.
“People almost never think their child will ‘be so dumb as to swallow’ magnets. But kids are doing so more often, despite adult supervision and even when adults know that these magnets are potentially dangerous,” Wieck explained.
The researchers argue that the only way to effectively prevent these injuries is to remove high-powered magnets from any environment where children may be present. It is crucial for parents, educators, and manufacturers to be aware of the risks associated with toy magnets and to take necessary precautions to keep children safe.
As the popularity of rare-earth magnets as toys has grown in recent years, it is imperative that the public remains vigilant and prioritizes the well-being of children. A comprehensive approach that includes education, stricter regulations, and product design improvements is necessary to mitigate this ongoing threat to child safety.