Water beads, button batteries and magnets: RCEM issues 'safety flash' warning over Christmas toys

Emergency medicine experts have raised concerns about a popular toy that could be given to children this Christmas. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has issued a "safety flash" regarding water beads, which are often marketed as toys.

Water beads, button or coin batteries, and magnets are among the items that could cause serious harm if swallowed by children, according to a safety flash from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM).

The beads, which are often used in stress balls, sensory toys, and art kits, can expand up to 400 times their original size when they come into contact with liquid. This can happen within around 36 hours.

If ingested while still small, they can then expand inside a child's body, potentially causing a bowel obstruction that may require surgical intervention and are not detectable on X-rays.

The safety alert aims to ensure emergency doctors are aware of the symptoms to look for, but it is also a warning to parents and caregivers about the potential dangers.

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The RCEM safety flash also draws attention to the risks associated with children swallowing button or coin batteries and magnets, noting that these items can pose a threat to children and vulnerable adults if ingested.

Button and coin cell batteries, in particular, can become lodged in a young child's food pipe, leading to severe injury or death due to a chemical reaction that erodes tissue.

A 2019 report by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body highlighted the tragic death of a three year old girl who accidentally swallowed a coin battery, without her parents knowing.

Additionally, a prior alert from the College stresses the severe risks to children ingesting super-strong magnets.

These magnets may attract one another within different parts of the intestine, leading to grave injuries or even bowel perforation, which requires urgent surgical intervention.

Dr Salwa Malik, vice president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, 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.”

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