The General Directorate of Health (DGS), the repression of fraud (DGCCRF), ANSES and Public Health France warn of the risk of ingestion of marbles, often very small, contained in construction games or office gadgets for small children.
- Two serious cases of accidental ingestion of 3 to 5 mm magnetic beads have recently been reported in children 3 years of age or younger.
- Younger children may mistake them for candy and ingest them.
- In case of ingestion, even supposed, you must immediately call a poison control center which will give medical advice and what to do.
The small magnetic balls found in children’s games or anti-stress objects must be watched carefully in the presence of young children. The Directorate General for Health (DGS), the repression of fraud (DGCCRF), ANSES and Public Health France are sounding the alert on the risk of ingestion of these small beads, in a statement. This alert follows two serious cases of accidental ingestion of 3 to 5 mm magnetic beads recently reported in children 3 years of age or younger.
The little ones confuse the little marbles with candy
These beads, once ingested, can cause great damage in the body of young children. They “can clump together, clog the digestive tract and tear the intestinal walls, causing perforations. The most serious cases require major surgery and can be life-threatening for children.”, points out the press release. According to the authorities and the repression of fraud, the magnetic balls are even “significantly more dangerous than inert objects of the same dimensions (glass marbles, coins).”
When these objects are near young children, it is advisable to be extremely attentive, even not to take any risk by making sure that they are out of their reach. Young children”might mistake them for candy and swallow them”, advance the health authorities.
react immediately
In the event of ingestion, even suspected, you must immediately call a poison control center which will give medical advice and the course of action to be taken (www.centres-antipoison.net). In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 15 or 112, the press release recalls.
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