Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a Safety Alert to warn of the risks that water beads can pose to children and vulnerable adults. This follows action taken by OPSS to remove unsafe products from the market.
The Safety Alert advises that water beads should be kept away from young children, under 5 years of age, and only used with older children or vulnerable adults under close supervision.
Water beads are beads that can expand up to 400 times their original size when exposed to liquid. They are marketed for various purposes, including for use as toys, in crafting, as home decor or in floristry. They are sold under a variety of names including, but not limited to, jelly balls, water balls, sensory beads or water crystals.
When swallowed, water beads expand and can block the gastrointestinal passage which can then require surgery. The beads can also cause choking and have harmed children in the UK, with reports linking them to deaths overseas. Water beads can be difficult to detect and do not show up in x-ray.
If it is suspected that a water bead has been swallowed, medical help should be sought immediately.
Consumers, carers, educators, local authority trading standards services and businesses are asked to be alert to the potential dangers of water beads and to act, where appropriate.
Action for Consumers, Childcare and Educational Settings:
- Water beads should be kept away from young children under 5 years of age. If you possess water beads, always store them out of sight and reach of children.
- It is recommended that caregivers of young children, under 5 years of age, avoid having water beads in their household or classroom, even if intended for an older child or adult use. This is because young children have the highest propensity to put things in their mouths.
- When using water beads with older children, ensure water beads are used under very close supervision of an adult. Ensure water beads are not swallowed, that the area is thoroughly checked to ensure no water beads have rolled away, which later could be found by a child. Only allow children supervised access to a limited number of water beads at any one time.
- Be aware of risks to older children and vulnerable adults, including people with special educational needs and disabilities which may make them more likely to mouth objects.
- Be aware of signs that could indicate accidental ingestion, like vomiting and stomach pain. Remember! A child may only show symptoms, hours or even a day or more after swallowing a bead. If you suspect water beads have been swallowed, seek immediate medical attention. If you can, bring a sample of the product.
- Be aware of signs that could indicate choking, such as difficulty breathing, speaking, crying or coughing or other signs of distress, such as pointing to their throat, grasping their neck or a face that turns pale and blue-tinted.
