Emergency doctors in the UK issued a warning on Monday about plastic beads, also known as hydrogel beads or water beads. Experts recommend not to give them to children under five years of age for Christmas. Why can colored balls be dangerous?
The soft plastic beads, also known as hydrogel beads, water beads or sensory beads, are typically only a few millimeters in size but can expand significantly in size – up to 400 times – within 36 hours of exposure to liquid. Swallowing one ball can cause intestinal obstruction, and the consequences can be fatal – warn specialists from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM), the British trade union of emergency medicine doctors, before Christmas.
Toys not for the youngest children
Moreover, the balls, used not only as toys but also as home decorations, are not visible on X-rays. Therefore, RCEM recommends that toys in this form be kept away from children under five years of age and advises parents and guardians to immediately seek professional help if they suspect that a child may have swallowed such a ball.
“Having seen first-hand the impact, which can be devastating and harmful, we are asking people to think twice about the dangers they pose when choosing and giving gifts during this period,” Dr Salwa Malik, vice president of RCEM, told PA Media.
The expert also drew attention to small button batteries and magnets. “As an emergency physician, I have seen parents hold their children's hands and watch over them while they lay in bed in the emergency room and needed immediate care because they had swallowed one of these items,” she said.
Choking – first aid
What to do if you witness choking? As the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate writes on its website, “early intervention can prevent loss of consciousness. Explaining the principles of first aid, GIS emphasizes that choking aid can save a life and “is one of those life-threatening conditions that can be encountered every day.”
When the injured person stops coughing but is conscious, you should:
1. Lean the injured person forward. 2. Strike the area between the shoulder blades vigorously five times.
When hitting does not help, use the so-called Heimlich maneuver (should not be used on pregnant women): 1. Bend the injured person over. 2. Cover with your hands, placing one part on the upper abdomen (under the sternum). 3. With your other hand, make a clenched fist. 4. Pull vigorously inwards and upwards.
If the steps listed above do not help, you should call an ambulance immediately by dialing 999 or 112. “If the injured person has lost consciousness, start resuscitation!” – explains GIS.
How to help a child when choking? Rescuers remind us of the most important rulesKatarzyna Górniak/Fakty TVN
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