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WE’LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE STATE. CHRISTIANA. THANK YOU. WELL, NEW FEDERAL SAFETY REGULATIONS ARE NOW IN EFFECT FOR A POPULAR TOY FOUND IN MANY HOMES AND SCHOOLS. WATER BEADS. THE SMALL, COLORFUL BALLS ARE DESIGNED TO ABSORB WATER AND GROW, BUT OFFICIALS SAY THAT CAN MAKE THEM DANGEROUS IF SWALLOWED. NOW, DOCTORS SAY THE BEADS CAN EXPAND INSIDE A CHILD’S BODY, CAUSING BLOCKAGES, CHOKING OR OTHER INTERNAL INJURIES. MORE THAN 6300 WATER BEADS INGESTION CASES WERE TREATED IN THE U.S. EMERGENCY ROOMS BETWEEN 2017 AND 2022. YOUNG CHILDREN EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH THEIR MOUTH THAT IS NORMAL AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE. ONCE THEY EXPAND UP, THEY CAN KIND OF LOOK LIKE A JELLY BEAN OR OTHER ROUND CANDY, AND KIDS HAVE SWEET TOOTHS. THEY LOVE CANDY. THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION HAS NOW SET LIMITS ON HOW LARGE WATER BEADS CAN EXPAND, AND REQUIRES CLEAR WARNING LABELS ON THE PRODUCTS. NOW, OFFICIALS SAY PARENTS SHOULD
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New safety regulations in place for popular toy ‘Water Beads’
Between 2017 and 2022, more than 6,300 Water Beads ingestion cases were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.
The federal government has taken measures after thousands of children have wound up in emergency rooms after playing with a popular toy found in homes and schools. Water Beads are small, colorful balls that absorb water, then grow. But because they resemble candy, some children swallow them, and that can cause blockages, choking, and other internal injuries. Between 2017 and 2022, more than 6,300 Water Beads ingestion cases were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. “Young children explore the world with their mouths. That is normal and developmentally appropriate,” said Dr. Maneesha Agarwal, whose specialty is pediatric emergency medicine. “But once they expand, they can look like a jelly bean, or other round candy, and kids have sweet tooths. They love candy.”The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has set limits on how large Water Beads can get, and is also requiring clear warning labels on them. Officials say parents should keep Water Beads out of the reach of young children and never allow them to play with these toys unsupervised.
The federal government has taken measures after thousands of children have wound up in emergency rooms after playing with a popular toy found in homes and schools.
Water Beads are small, colorful balls that absorb water, then grow. But because they resemble candy, some children swallow them, and that can cause blockages, choking, and other internal injuries.
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Between 2017 and 2022, more than 6,300 Water Beads ingestion cases were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.
“Young children explore the world with their mouths. That is normal and developmentally appropriate,” said Dr. Maneesha Agarwal, whose specialty is pediatric emergency medicine. “But once they expand, they can look like a jelly bean, or other round candy, and kids have sweet tooths. They love candy.”
The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission has set limits on how large Water Beads can get, and is also requiring clear warning labels on them. Officials say parents should keep Water Beads out of the reach of young children and never allow them to play with these toys unsupervised.
