There have been recent incidents in the Metro area, including Prior Lake-Savage, involving students swallowing tiny magnetic balls. (Some students have placed these in their mouths' to simulate a piercing.) These magnetic balls are sold as Buckyballs, Neo Blocks, Rare Earth Magnets or Neo Cubes. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the magnets "can attract inside the body and twist or pinch the intestines, causing holes, blockages, infection, and death, if not treated properly and promptly."
Pictures and more information regarding these magnetic balls are available on the links below:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07164.html
http://www.recallowl.com/Consumer+Recalls/Toys/Buckyballs+High+Powered+Magnets+Sets+Recalled+by+Maxfield+and+Oberton+Due+to+Violation+of+Federal+Toy+Standard
Too see examples of the toy magnets, please click HERE.
Thank you,
Health Services
