MESA, ARIZONA: McKaylee Brown, a mother from Mesa, Arizona, found herself in a harrowing situation when her nine-month-old son, Jonah, fell seriously ill.
Recounting the distressing incident, she stated, "He was just projectile vomiting in a way I’ve never seen."
Rushing him to the hospital, Brown faced uncertainty as medical professionals initially attributed his condition to dehydration, advising anti-nausea medication and Gatorade.
McKaylee Brown's harrowing ordeal caused by water beads
Brown expressed her helplessness at the situation, saying, "It was so miserable to see him just so severely ill and no answers," per Arizona's Family.
Days passed before a CT scan led to a clear diagnosis. The illness was caused by a water bead, a tiny polymer that expands when it comes in contact with liquid. "His surgeon came in and was like, ‘I don’t understand it, but there’s a big ball inside of him, like something he couldn’t have swallowed,'" Brown recalled.
This alarming discovery was traced back to a seemingly innocuous toy purchased for her older child. "We played with them in our house one time, and they spilled, and we cleaned them all up, so we thought," Brown recounted.
The mother then speculated, "One just must have gotten stuck in a carpet fiber that [Jonah] found."
The consequences were dire. The water bead had enlarged within Jonah's intestine, necessitating immediate surgical intervention.
Sadly, Jonah's case is not isolated. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 2016 and 2022, an estimated 7,800 hospital emergency room visits were attributed to water bead-related injuries.
Advocacy for a ban on hazardous water beads
Dr Rahul Chawla, a pediatric critical care intensivist at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, highlighted the gravity of these incidents, stating, "Kids have died because of these."
He explained the potential hazards, "If it goes down in your airway or your trachea or the back of your throat it can swell up and close off your airway or block your breathing."
In response to such hazards, New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone has proposed a ban on water beads marketed for children, emphasizing their deceptive appearance and the risks they pose if accidentally swallowed.
Dr Chawla advocated for a definitive ban, drawing from clinical reports and experiences from children's hospitals.
Brown echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for action to prevent tragedies like those experienced by other families.
While there have been recalls for certain water bead products, numerous options remain available for purchase.
Are current safety standards enough to safeguard children from the risks posed by water beads?
The Toy Association released a statement on the topic, stressing adherence to federal safety standards for such toys and they urged caution and compliance with age guidelines, considering the inherent risks of gastrointestinal blockage if swallowed accidentally.
The association noted, "The Toy Association reminds parents and caregivers that kids under the age of three experience the world differently than older children and are much more likely to put non-food objects in their mouths," highlighting the importance of following age grading provided on toys.
The CPSC's warning advised parents and caregivers to remove water bead products from environments frequented by small children, emphasizing their capacity to expand significantly when exposed to water.
As the debate rages on about the safety of these products, McKaylee Brown's advocacy rings louder, highlighting the urgent need to protect children from the unforeseen dangers lurking within seemingly harmless toys.
