Is Kinetic Sand poisonous?
The bottom line
Kinetic Sand is a fun sensory toy. Sand is not poisonous when swallowed, but it might cause constipation or gastrointestinal obstruction.
Prevention Tips
Do not use street drugs or other illicit substances.
Do not take medications that are not prescribed for you.
Even used fentanyl patches contain enough medication to harm a child. Be sure to discard these medications properly.
If you or a loved one have been prescribed an opioid pain medication, ask your doctor about getting naloxone (Narcan) from your pharmacy or learn how to obtain naloxone online.
Bystander naloxone administration saves lives. Learn how to administer naloxone and keep it handy if possible.
If a person does not have a pulse, perform CPR.
There are safe and effective treatments for opioid addiction. Treatment for opioid dependence is the best way to prevent an overdose.
This Really Happened
Case 1. The grandparents of a 2-year-old girl called their poison center 3 hours after she ate a mouthful of Kinetic Sand. The poison center reassured the grandparents that the girl should tolerate the ingestion and that no symptoms were expected from this exposure. The girl never developed symptoms.
Case 2. A 4-year-old girl swallowed an unknown amount of green Kinetic Sand. The next day, she had a green-colored bowel movement and was taken to an ER. The ER physician called a poison center for guidance. The poison center said that the product was minimally toxic, the discolored stool was expected, and no other symptoms should develop. Other than the green-colored stools, the girl had no symptoms.
What is Kinetic Sand?
Kinetic Sand is made of 98% ultra-fine grain sand combined with 2% dimethicone (polydimethylsiloxane). Dimethicone is a silicone compound that is used in some diaper rash creams and is considered minimally toxic. It is also an important ingredient in Silly Putty! Alone, sand and dimethicone are uninteresting, but the combination is where the magic happens. This mixture creates a moldable solid that can hold a sculpted shape for a short period of time.
When left alone, Kinetic Sand will eventually collapse back into a loose sandy mixture. This happens because Kinetic Sand is a non-Newtonian fluid. A non-Newtonian fluid is a substance that is loose or liquid when left alone, but gets harder under stress, such as when you squeeze it. This property allows Kinetic Sand to be used repeatedly.
Is Kinetic Sand poisonous?
While Kinetic Sand is not poisonous if eaten, it does pose a choking hazard, and if large amounts are eaten, it can cause constipation. In severe cases, it is possible for Kinetic Sand to cause gastrointestinal obstruction. If someone eats a small amount of Kinetic Sand, it should pass in a bowel movement. If the product is uniquely colored, the dye it contains might change the color of the bowel movement. This is not harmful.
Symptoms of a gastrointestinal obstruction include:
distended or bloated stomach
lack of bowel movement
vomiting
refusal to eat or lack of appetite
severe constipation
How to make safe Kinetic Sand.
If you can find the ingredients, it is possible to make your own version of Kinetic Sand. Learn how!
My child ate Kinetic Sand. What should I do?
If you suspect someone has ingested Kinetic Sand, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
