Water Bead Injury: Any gel that absorbs and contains a significant amount of water is known as water crystal gel, water beads, or gel beads. A water-absorbing superabsorbent polymer (SAP, also known as slush powder in dry form) like polyacrylamide makes up water gel, typically spherical (frequently sodium polyacrylate).
What Is Water Bead Injury?
According to the Poison Control website, water beads are produced using highly absorbent polymers derived from petroleum, such as polyacrylate and other acrylics.
Ashley claims that although the goods list these “ingredients” as non-toxic, they should be used cautiously because they can keep expanding once inside the body and may result in asphyxiation or intestinal obstruction.
According to Haugen’s website, a kid suffers from a water bead injury if they swallow one of these toys or are exposed to it in a harmful way, such as by sticking it in their nose, ear, or through prolonged skin contact.
According to Ashley, the symptoms of a water bead injury can include coughing, gagging, quick or laborious breathing, vomiting, throat, chest, or abdomen pain, bloating, discomfort, and anxiety. That Water Bead Lady also warns of signs including a rash on the face, trouble sleeping, and mood swings, which she claims occurred in her daughter’s case.
According to a piece written by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the risks associated with water beads are increased because they are sometimes difficult to see on X-rays.
Pediatric physician Jenifer Lightdale told the publication that certain things “may become bigger as they move through the intestines, ultimately paving the road for obstruction.”
A two-year-old girl inhaled roughly 100 tiny water beads last year. The story warns that the beads “grew to the size of marbles, and it took her nine hours to pass them in the emergency department.” After having water beads inserted in their ears, other kids had hearing loss or impairment.
Is Water Bead Dangerous If Swallowed?
Image Source: supplies.com
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Water beads that are swallowed may not always be digested and eliminated through feces. The water beads can continue to grow inside the body and expand to a size that can obstruct the intestines or bowel because of all the body fluids present. Even the tiny crystal beads’ initial size can be ingested and grow significantly more prominent.
After their nine-month-old daughter, Kennedy swallowed a water bead, one TikTok user, for bby4, began sharing her family’s struggles. Her video above has received over 12 million views this month, and many commenters have thanked her for sharing her family’s story and stated that they have since thrown away all of their water beads at home.
Get your child to an emergency room as soon as possible if you think they may have ingested a water bead. The beads might be removed without invasive surgery if detected through ultrasound promptly.
According to the National Health Library, point-of-care ultrasound can quickly identify water beads, which speeds up endoscopic intervention and prevents the need for surgical removal of foreign bodies.
Some young children might even want to put them in their noses or ears. Children sometimes inserted water beads into their ear canals, and when the dots grew more extensive, they experienced hearing loss.
Are Water Beads Toxic?
Poison Control states that although the water beads are not toxic, they are exceedingly risky and even lethal. Children have occasionally needed surgery to unblock blockages, and one of those cases even resulted in death.
Even though the water beads’ label states that they are non-toxic and Poison Control concurs, this does not preclude the possibility that they could still be dangerous.
And for this reason, a woman on TikTok who goes by the name “That Water Bead Lady” has been speaking out and spreading the word about how the misleading nature of the “non-toxic” designation. You’ll learn why if you keep reading.
Image Source: artfulparent.com
How To Keep Kids Safe From Balls?
Parents can take a few steps to protect their children and toddlers from water beads. Here are a few pieces of advice:
- Keep the beads out of children’s reach. Children should be watched adequately if the beads are within distance to avoid them from putting them in their mouths or eyes.
- If you use water beads for sensory play, keep an eye on the kids at all times.
- Children and toddlers should be taught how to play safely with water beads.
- Immediately seek medical assistance if water beads are ingested.
- Avert boiling water beads, as this can cause airborne contaminants to be released.
Using these easy tips, parents may protect their kids from the possible risks of water bead injury.
What Are Water Beads Used For?
In the beginning, water beads were employed as agricultural tools to keep the soil moist. Florists use them to maintain the moisture of lovely floral arrangements. Currently, period pads, incontinence clothing, and infant diapers use water beads as fluid absorbers.
Additionally, they are advertised as therapies for kids with sensory processing or autistic spectrum disorders or as toys for young children. Water beads for toys are available under the Orbeez®, MarvelBeads®, and Elongdi® names.
Brightly colored water beads that are offered as toys frequently resemble sweets. Children may ingest water beads or place them in their ears, nose, or other body openings due to these characteristics making water beads enticing to young children.
