Emergency doctors issue Christmas warning to parents about popular toy which could be potentially fatal

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has issued a "safety flash" over water beads, which are marketed as toys.

Parents are being warned about a popular Christmas gift that could be potentially fatal if swallowed by a child.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has issued a "safety flash" over water beads, which are marketed as toys.

The beads, which can be used on their own, or put in stress balls, sensory toys or art kits, are also sold as home decor or vase fillers.

They have been linked to child deaths overseas and to "serious harm" to children in the UK.

The beads start small - only a few millimetres wide - but can grow to 400 times their size in around 36 hours when exposed to liquid.

If swallowed when small, the beads, which are not visible on X-rays, can expand inside the body and cause bowel obstruction - requiring surgery to remove them.

The RCEM's safety alert has been issued not only so emergency doctors know what to look out for, but also as a warning to parents and carers of the dangers of these products.

With Christmas just a few days away, here are some other toys and gifts that are frequently warned about, and tips on checking a product's safety.

'Super-strong' magnetic ballsThe RCEM has also issued warnings over "super-strong" magnets found in toys and fake piercings, warning that swallowing these items can cause intestinal injury within eight to 24 hours of ingestion.

However, the symptoms may not manifest themselves until weeks later.

They can be in different parts of the intestine but come together, causing injury and even leading to perforation of the bowel, which requires urgent surgery.

In one such case, an 18-month-old child presented twice to A&E with vomiting and poor appetite, with doctors establishing they had swallowed 20 of the magnetic balls.

Parents are warned to look out for abdominal and respiratory issues and that the swallowing of these magnets should be treated as a "time critical emergency" which requires a surgical review.

In a warning shared on Instagram earlier this year, consumer champion Which? advises that if you think your child has swallowed one of these magnets, "do not make them sick" and "do not give them anything to eat or drink".

They advise to take the child to A&E immediately and explain what's happened, and that doctors shouldn't perform an MRI, as the scanner can interact with the magnetic balls inside the body.

Button and coin cell batteriesButton and coin cell batteries - used increasingly in toys, novelty items, and gadgets - can lodge in the food pipe of young children causing serious harm or death due to a chemical reaction which erodes tissue.

A Health Services Safety Investigations Body published a report in 2019 which details the death of a three-year-old girl who swallowed a coin battery without her parents knowing.

Meanwhile, a previous warning from the College highlights how children can come to severe harm after swallowing super-strong magnets.

The RCEM says children under five are at highest risk of injury as a result of swallowed button and coin cell batteries, due to their tendency to put things in their mouths and their inability to articulate their actions.

It says children who have swallowed these items can present with persistent non-specific symptoms as well as respiratory symptoms, haematemesis (vomiting blood from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract) and haemoptysis (coughing blood from the respiratory tract).

'Please think twice about the risks this Christmas', doctor pleasWarning of the dangers of water beads, magnetic balls and button and coin cell batteries, RCEM vice president Dr Salwa Malik said: "Any one of these three objects could be found under your tree or in a stocking this festive season.

"Hidden in gifts that are intended to bring joy to a child or vulnerable person, but which, if swallowed, could result in critical illness and the need for emergency medical treatment.

"As an emergency medicine doctor, I have seen parents holding their child’s hand and watching over them while they lay on a bed in an Emergency Department, in need of urgent care because they have ingested one of these items.

"As a parent, I can imagine how utterly terrifying and a traumatic that would be to go through - for a mum, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, brother, sister and of course, the child themselves.

"Having seen the effects first hand, which can be devastating and detrimental, we are asking people to please think twice about the dangers these pose while selecting and gifting presents this season.

"We are also raising awareness within emergency departments by circulating these safety flashes to ensure our colleagues in emergency departments are aware and informed about the dangers and equipped with the best clinical guidance to treat a child, or vulnerable person should they seek help after swallowing these objects."

As well as the above three items, the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) also warns parents to be wary of toys with long cords that can strangle a child, and