They are often found as decoration around flowers: decorative water beads are dangerous for children, warns the Ministry of Health, in a press release published on the website of the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety.
Potential fatal accidents: this is the subject of the alert about water balls, when they are ingested by children. The press release states:A fatal case of ingestion has recently been reported and several other serious accidents have been recorded, most of them in children under 5 years old..”
Risks of bowel obstruction
Indeed, the beads that support up to 400 times their weight in water, can cause intestinal obstruction. And for good reason, “they can greatly increase in volume several hours after ingestion“. This, in addition to the risk of choking like all the small objects swallowed by the little ones. The text specifies that this can lead to heavy surgical procedures.
If your child ingests a water ball, what should you do? The Department of Health simply clarified:Immediately call a poison control center who will give you medical advice and what to do.”
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