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Toys, crafts, and jewelry

  • magnets

    "Toy" magnets are dangerous for children

    Sets of tiny, strong magnets are sold as stress or fidget toys intended for adults but often are swallowed by children, resulting in serious injury and even death. The magnets, or a magnet and another metal object, can stick to each other, even through folds of gastrointestinal tissue. This pinches off blood supply to the area, causing tissue death, bleeding, and infection.

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  • small clear cube

    Is super glue toxic?

    Super glue is cyanoacrylate, an acrylic resin that forms a strong adhesive bond. The main adverse effect is bonding of 2 surfaces such as lips, eye lids, or fingers. It can cause irritation and pain. Do not pull bonded areas apart. Soaking in water, acetone, or isopropyl alcohol or lubricating with oil or petroleum jelly may shorten bonding time.

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  • kid with paint

    Safe use of art products

    Art products are mixtures of chemicals and should be used correctly. It's common for children to swallow these products or get them on the skin or eye. Most of the time, the children are fine but mishaps can occur, especially eye or skin irritation.

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  • young boy blowing snowflakes

    Safe use of artificial snow

    There are two main types of artificial snow: powders that are mixed with water and spray-on aerosols. In most small exposures, neither product type is likely to cause severe problems, but swallowing the powder or spraying the aerosol directly onto the skin or into the eyes can cause symptoms.

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  • playdoh

    Is Play-Doh edible?

    Play-Doh is a reusable modeling product made mostly of water, salt, and flour. It is not toxic. However, if a large amount is swallowed, it may cause a mild upset stomach. It may also be a choking hazard in young children. Rarely, contact dermatitis may occur. Since it contains flour, Play-Doh can trigger a gluten allergy.

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  • baby chewing on phone

    Kids will swallow anything

    Children will swallow anything they can reach. Most of the time, these objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract with no trouble; the object turns up in the child's stool. Sometimes, surgery is needed to remove the object(s). In one recent study, coins made up 80 percent of swallowed foreign objects that had to be removed by surgery.

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  • Girls in Halloween costumes

    Halloween poisoning prevention

    Halloween treats are great. Tricks are not! Go with your children when they trick-or-treat. Look at the goodies before they're eaten. Rinse liquid from glow sticks out of eyes if it's splashed. Drink some water if it's swallowed. And, stick to actual cosmetics meant for the skin when making up.

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  • Kid with glow stick

    Are glow sticks dangerous?

    A glow stick is a plastic tube containing two reactive chemicals, which combine when the tube is bent, resulting in a luminescent glow. Glow sticks are not poisonous. If swallowed, mouth irritation and an upset stomach may occur. The liquid can also cause skin and eye irritation. If the glow stick breaks and the liquid leaks into your mouth, eyes, or skin, rinse with water.

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