British emergency doctors have issued a safety warning regarding water beads, a popular holiday season gift. These beads, which are marketed as crafting materials and household items, are also marketed as toys. They can grow up to 400 times their original size when exposed to liquid, expanding to a couple of millimetres in size and can cause bowel obstruction in children if swallowed. This can have devastating results and is potentially fatal. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has given advice that the beads should be kept away from children under the age of five.
The warning is intended for doctors to make sure that they are aware of the danger and to ensure that they know what they should be looking for while on duty. The College would also like parents and caregivers to be aware of the risks. Water beads are not visible on X-rays, and they can cause choking hazards. Reports have linked them to child deaths in overseas countries. This led the British Government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards to issue a warning in September reminding people that water beads should only be used by older children or vulnerable adults under close supervision.
If a child has swallowed a water bead, parents and caregivers should immediately seek medical attention. Dr Salwa Malik, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, who spoke to PA Media, has detailed the impact of the choking hazard first-hand, stating that it can often be devastating and harmful. Dr Malik has urged that people consider the dangers when choosing what to give for presents this Christmas. The RCEM has also highlighted the potential danger of button or coin batteries and magnets, particularly to children and vulnerable adults, if accidentally swallowed.
To summarise, the RCEM has issued an alert to doctors regarding the dangers of water beads, which can expand up to 400 times their original size when exposed to liquid. The beads are marketed as crafting tools, household items and toys and can cause bowel obstruction or even death if swallowed. The RCEM highlights the importance of being vigilant of the danger posed by water beads to children and vulnerable adults, particularly as they are not visible on an X-ray. Parents and caregivers should be aware of these risks and should seek immediate medical attention if they believe a child has ingested a water bead. The RCEM has also reminded people about the potential danger of button or coin batteries and magnets
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