Beware! ~toy warning~

[Mom-To-3-Girls]

This was posted on another board and I want to post it here to be sure everyone sees it.

REDMOND - A freak accident involving a popular toy has killed a 2-year-old boy. And now, Kenny Sweet's parents hope that other parents can learn from their tragedy.

It was Thanksgiving Day when Kenny was rushed to Kirkland's Evergreen Medical Center emergency room with what his mom thought was the stomach flu. But five minutes later, Kenny had died.

"I heard 'code blue' and I was hysterical at that point," Penny Sweet said. "I thought maybe if we all could pray at the same time that we could pull him out, but no amount of prayers or people could save him at that point."

The King County Medical Examiner's report blames his death on a toy. The autopsy found tiny magnets -- smaller than the eraser on a pencil -- in Kenny's intestine.

The magnets were encased in plastic building blocks toys that Penny's 10-year-old son had been playing with. Penny says some of the magnets fell out, and Kenny apparently found them in the carpet and swallowed them.

"It's very dangerous. Who can police this?" asks Kenny's mother.

Doctors found the magnets in Kenny's small intestine -- one at the top and one at the bottom. The magnetic force was so great it connected both ends, twisting his intestine and forcing deadly bacteria into his blood stream.

"It does say there is a choking hazard on here," Penny Sweet said. "Unfortunately, they don't say it causes serious injury or death, which is the kind warning they need to have on here."

Dr. Tony Woodward, Children's Hospital Chief of Emergency Medicine, is not connected with Kenny's case, but he explained what happens when the intestine is twisted: "As it twists farther, you lose blood supply to the intestine. Once you lose blood supply, then it starts to die."

Mega Bloks, based in Montreal, manufactures the toy. It's one in a series called Magnetix.

A spokesperson for the company said that in nearly 70 years in the toy business, this is the first death resulting from one of their toys. The spokesman said the Magnetix toys are still on the shelf, but Mega Bloks is investigating.

With Christmas just days away the Sweets didn't want to wait for the company's findings, they want to warn other parents immediately.

Mega Bloks reported Kenny Sweet's death to The Consumer Product Safety Commission. The commission confirmed for KOMO 4 News it does have an "open investigation."

Mega Bloks says it's up to the commission to decide if the toy should be pulled off toy shelves.

In October, Toy Wishes, a self-described family entertainment guide, named the Magnetix as one of the top 12 toys for Christmas this year

http://www.komotv.com/stories/40874.htm

[clubchick]

OH MY GOSH! thank you for posting this, mommy. how awful for that family.

[Big Daddy]

That is terrible. Though it seems strange that the tiny magnets were so powerful even in the fluids of the intestines.

[spazntwitch]

"Unfortunately, they don't say it causes serious injury or death, which is the kind warning they need to have on here."

OK, now, let's be reasonable. If they start doing this on every freak accident, even chewing gum would have a warning. Toddlers could die from choking on it too. Come on people!

[clubchick]

good point, spaz. the choking warning that's already on the package ought to be enough- most parents realize that children can die from choking. plus, if there's a choking warning, then the toy is probably labeled for children over 3 years old. if that's the case, parents are responsible to keep their children away from toys that are unsafe. plus, who leaves little magnets in the carpet? don't most people pick up after themselves and their children?
it's still a sad situation, though, and it ought to be a wake up call to everyone - parenting is a serious responsibility.


also, i just looked up the story and there's a picture of the magnets showing how strong they are- with an adult finger in between them! they are some STRONG magnets.

[SharonL]

My son just got some of these for his birthday. He is 7 so I'm not worried. They are a great toy. There is a warning label on them that says they contain marble and small parts and not for children under 3. I think that's enough of a warning label. I hope they don't pull them off the shelves. They are a great educational toy.

[SharonL]

good point, spaz. the choking warning that's already on the package ought to be enough- most parents realize that children can die from choking. plus, if there's a choking warning, then the toy is probably labeled for children over 3 years old. if that's the case, parents are responsible to keep their children away from toys that are unsafe. plus, who leaves little magnets in the carpet? don't most people pick up after themselves and their children?
it's still a sad situation, though, and it ought to be a wake up call to everyone - parenting is a serious responsibility.


also, i just looked up the story and there's a picture of the magnets showing how strong they are- with an adult finger in between them! they are some STRONG magnets.

Ya they are. I just read on the side of the box it says " Enclosed magnets are to be kept 2 inches away from Pacemaker/defibrillators".

[tigger_too_wooh]

WOW! That is unbelievable!

Thanks for the post! It good to be aware!

[clubchick]

I just read on the side of the box it says " Enclosed magnets are to be kept 2 inches away from Pacemaker/defibrillators".

hmmmm... don't tell todd... he might take my credit cards to them :p

[Kage_]

That is terrible. Though it seems strange that the tiny magnets were so powerful even in the fluids of the intestines.

The fluids would not affect the magnets. My guess they are the type of rare earth magnets that are small, but very strong. These are the same type you find in hard drives to move the heads. I can take two of the hard drive magnets, one on the top of my desk and one on the bottom, and through 1 1/4" desk they will hold and pull each other around. I can easily see if two of the small ones were swallowed that it could cause major problems when they came close to each other.

Kage_

[Big Daddy]

The fluids would not affect the magnets. My guess they are the type of rare earth magnets that are small, but very strong. These are the same type you find in hard drives to move the heads. I can take two of the hard drive magnets, one on the top of my desk and one on the bottom, and through 1 1/4" desk they will hold and pull each other around. I can easily see if two of the small ones were swallowed that it could cause major problems when they came close to each other.

Kage_

I never claimed to be a scientist. :o

[Kage_]

I never claimed to be a scientist. :o

The only reason I know is cause I like to rip apart old hard drives just for the magents.

Kage_

[Big Daddy]

The only reason I know is cause I like to rip apart old hard drives just for the magents.

Kage_

Are you the Incredible Hulk (with a magnet fetish)? ;)

[Kage_]

Are you the Incredible Hulk (with a magnet fetish)? ;)

Just because I have three of the magnets on my overhead shelf, plus two at home as fridge magents doesn't mean I have a magnet fetish... :D