US moves to ban small magnets after child's death

Credit: US CPSC

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is moving closer to banning small, high-powered magnets. On Sept. 3, the CPSC released a draft rule that would regulate these magnets. 

The rule follows nearly 3,000 reports of magnet ingestions resulting in hospital visits. In addition, the CPSC received a report of the death of an 18-month-old girl. The toddler died after swallowing several small magnets. 

The magnets the CPSC wants to regulate are in children's toys and in adult novelty items. Two aspects of these magnets make them particularly dangerous:

1. The magnets are small enough to be swallowed.
2. The magnets are much more powerful than "typical" magnets found in children's toys.

Because of their strength, if more than one magnet is swallowed they are pulled toward

Credit: US CPSC

each other while inside a person's body. This is what happened to Annaka Chaffin, the 18-month-old, who died after swallowing seven of these magnets, explains USA Today. In Chaffin, the magnets "became attached to one another, which perforated her bowel and caused it to become septic" leading to her death.

Several magnet manufacturers issued product recalls. Buckyballs issued a recall in July 2014 following a complaint by the CPSC. In August 2014, the makers of Magnicube Spheres issued a voluntary recall of their high-powered magnets. This recall was in response to an administrative case taken against the manufacturer by the CPSC. The CPSC is urging consumers to stop using these products. Consumers can file claims relating to Buckyballs at buckyballsrecall.com and at magnicube.com for Magnicube Spheres.

The CPSC offers consumers the following safety tips relating to magnets:

• Keep small magnets away from young children who might swallow them.
• Look out for loose magnet pieces - and regularly inspect toys and children's play areas for missing or dislodged magnets.
• If you suspect that magnets were swallowed, seek medical attention immediately.
• Look for abdominal symptoms, such as abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• Note that in x-rays multiple magnetic pieces may appear as a single object.

Sources:

CPSC briefing package on safety standards for magnets

CPSC may ban tiny magnets that killed a child

This article was originally published by me on Examiner.com.

©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action