| Children | Adults | Teachers | Medical |
OKLAHOMA CITY — Infants and small children often put things in their mouth that are non-food items, many of which pass through the child’s digestive system without any problem. However, rare earth magnets, found in many of today’s popular toys, jewelry and building sets, pose very dangerous health risks for children.
Since 2005, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has identified one death and 86 cases of reported injury among children due to magnet ingestion. In two of the cases, the child thought the magnets were candy. To date, there have been approximately 8 million magnetic toy recalls.
Lee McGoodwin, managing director of the Oklahoma Poison Control Center, states that “some of these rare earth magnets are as small as BB pellets. The magnets are so strong that they cling together inside the child’s body and can pinch together intestinal linings enough to kill surrounding tissue, tear through the stomach lining and cause death. When blood flow is blocked, infection also can occur. In addition, it is important to remember a child may swallow a magnet and there may not be any noticeable symptoms.” The ingested foreign object also can block the airway and/or cause pain, drooling and vomiting.
The Oklahoma Poison Control Center recommends the following guidelines when considering purchases for children:
• Remember that small foreign objects such as coins, disc batteries and magnets are choking hazards, as they can become stuck in the throat of a small child or infant.
• Disc batteries are not only a choking hazard, but when swallowed can cause severe internal burns, and even death. Keep toys and electronics with removable disc batteries away from young children. Store unused or discarded batteries where children cannot find them.
• Keep products that contain magnets away from young children. The magnets often fall out of the toys without anyone realizing.
• If the label of the toy states that it contains small parts that are not suitable for children, find an alternative toy that is age appropriate.
If you suspect that a child has swallowed a foreign object, do not wait for symptoms; call the Oklahoma Poison Control Center right away at (800) 222-1222. The Oklahoma Poison Control Center’s free poison helpline is operated by a team of highly qualified and specially trained nurses and pharmacists who can provide immediate assistance at any hour, day or night.
The Oklahoma Poison Control Center is a program of the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy at the OU Health Sciences Center.
The Oklahoma Poison Control Center web site is provided free of charge to the public as an informational and educational tool. This web site is NOT intended as a substitute for a consultation with the Oklahoma Poison Control Center. The center is a statewide program operated by The University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy in cooperation with Children's Hospital at the OU Medical Center. Our pharmacists and nurses are specially trained poison experts available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.