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View Full Version : Attn parents: All Magnetix building sets recalled


HRJ
03-31-2006, 04:19 PM
As best I can tell, this is for real -- I know a lot of people have these for their kids:

Death prompts recall of building sets
Magnetic building sets cause illness in over 30 children, as small magnets cause damage when swallowed.
March 31, 2006: 12:38 PM EST

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Several million magnetic building sets have been recalled in the United States because more than 30 children fell ill -- and one died -- after swallowing small magnets that fell out of the toys, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday.

Parents should immediately take all Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets away from their small children, the CPSC said, estimating that 3.8 million sets have been sold.
Parents should immediately take all Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets away from their small children, the CPSC said.
Parents should immediately take all Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets away from their small children, the CPSC said.

A 20-month-old boy died after swallowing magnets that twisted his small intestine and caused a blockage, the CPSC said. Overall, 34 incidents involving small children have been reported to the government.

Three children, ranging in age from 3 to 8 years, "had intestinal perforations that required surgery and hospitalization in intensive care," the CSPC said. "A 5-year-old child aspirated two magnets that were surgically removed from his lung."

"Tiny magnets inside the plastic building pieces and rods can fall out," the CPSC said. "Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract to each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal.

"This product is unsuitable for young children."

It's estimated that 3.8 million of the All Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets have been sold in the United States by Wal-Mart (Research), Target (Research), Toys R Us, Fred Meyer, Design Science Toys and A.C. Moore (Research), as well as other toy and arts and craft stores since September 2003, the CPSC said.

The sets were made in China and imported into the United States by Rose Art Industries, of Livingston, N.J.

The recall was voluntarily, the CPSC said.

The sets contain 20 to 200 red, yellow, blue and green plastic building pieces shaped as squares, triangles and cylinder rods. Some pieces have "Magnetix" imprinted on them, the CPSC said. The sets also include 20 to 100 half-inch steel balls.

"Consumers should stop using the magnetic sets and return the sets to Rose Art for a free replacement product suitable for young children under the age of 6," the CPSC said. "Consumers should be sure to keep all small magnet parts out of the hands of children who mouth objects, especially children under the age of three."

The CPSC suggested consumers could contact the company through its Web site: www.roseart.com.

RunnerKim
03-31-2006, 04:26 PM
Helene - I know that the death is real; I read the news article about it when it happened. It was scary to think such little magnets could do such damage.
Kudos to Rose Art for doing a volunatary recall.

Kim

HRJ
03-31-2006, 04:41 PM
Kim, we used to have a small set of these -- but Victor left them lying all over the house and I was afraid DH or I would hurt ourselves slipping on those little magnet balls, so I gathered them up one day and packed them away, for when he was older. Now, of course, I'm throwing them out.

But, this story is making me paranoid about all the other toys we've got that include magnets -- like the discount-store brand alphabet letters on our fridge. Vic is past the stage of putting things in his mouth, but still .....

Hope you and the other toddler/preschool moms are well -- I haven't had much time to post lately, but I heard about this recall from another mom at the day-care and thought it was important to spread the word.


H.

momqat
03-31-2006, 08:39 PM
But, this story is making me paranoid about all the other toys we've got that include magnets -- like the discount-store brand alphabet letters on our fridge. Vic is past the stage of putting things in his mouth, but still .....

Helene, I don't think you need to worry too much about this. I caught a story on a news program about this and they said the reason the magnetix were so dangerous was because the magnets were so little and so very STRONG that they were able to do the damage they did. A "normal" alphabet letter magnet could not be swallowed as easily and neither could it adhere to another so tightly through an intestinal wall, for example. They showed the magnetix magnets attracting force and it was pretty scary...

fci5767
04-01-2006, 03:27 AM
Helene, I don't think you need to worry too much about this. I caught a story on a news program about this and they said the reason the magnetix were so dangerous was because the magnets were so little and so very STRONG that they were able to do the damage they did. A "normal" alphabet letter magnet could not be swallowed as easily and neither could it adhere to another so tightly through an intestinal wall, for example. They showed the magnetix magnets attracting force and it was pretty scary...


I agree, I've had those little alphabet letters in my classroom (and in my house) for years and those magnets barely stick to the refrigerator. I wouldn't worry about those.

Apricot
04-03-2006, 08:22 AM
How about supermags? Aren't they pretty much the same thing? I've put them away with a 4 y/o and 14 month old around, but after reading this post, I think I'll throw them out. Yikes! How scary!

brykate
04-03-2006, 10:45 PM
Such a horrible and tragic loss! I sympathize for that poor family and can't even imagine :(

My husband made some interesting remarks that I thought I'd share....
We have a set and our boys (3 & 4) love to make cool designs and play with them. The balls are metal, the magnets are inside the plastic sticks. I asked DH if he thougth we should throw them out now. He said
No, unless I want to. There are all sorts of household items and TOYS that are hazardous, even life threatening, to a baby or child if swallowed. As parents we all know it and are on guard. The manufacturer of the Magnetics labeled their product with warnings, put age appropriate 3+ and technically were responsible as much as they are supposed to be. After that things are in our hands; the parents/guardians.

My first reaction was shock that he could say that after a baby DIED! and was he crazy?!? Imagine being a parent of baby who swallowed, I told him heatedly.... But then I could see where he was coming from.

Don't get me wrong. I think having it around is too risky for tiny tots or babies who put things in their mouths. The magnets are super strong and what they did too that little boy's insides....

After thinking about it I'm probably going to keep them. I shook the sticks and couldn't get any magnets to fall out. I'll check when they play with them to make sure all magnets are still accounted for. The set stays in their container except when they want to play with them only. Obviously it doesn't come out when littler ones are around, as with other certain toys too for the same reason.

Just some thought.....