The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for a popular toy sold at Target stores. CPSC determined the Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits are potentially dangerous to children after an infant died from ingesting a water bead.
WRAL reported the CPSC warned the beads are potentially harmful if swallowed, as they can expand and cause choking and other dangers. Parents are urged to stop using the products immediately and secure them away from children.
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Target stores reportedly sold thousands of kits.
According to a release from CPSC, the retailer sold about 52,000 kits between March and November 2022. The kits contained several different items, including two sizes of beads. The kits also included a container and lid, small fish figures, a scoop with scissors, a handled scoop, and 10 activity cards. The activity kit came in a purple box with UPC Number 079346627035 and sold for $15.
CSPC issued the recall of, "Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits due to ingestion, choking, and obstruction hazards. The water beads pose a risk of serious injury or death if ingested. When ingested, the beads grow in size, which can cause intestinal obstruction," the release noted.
Parents can return the beads for a full refund.
CSPC said parents need to take the beads away from their children immediately and contact Buffalo Games for information on how to return the water beads and receive a full refund. Parents can return the bead kits to the manufacturer or any Target store.
'That Water Bead Lady' is on a mission to save kids' lives.
Ashley Haugen calls herself That Water Bead Lady and tells her family's story on her website. Haugen's daughter, Kipley, became severely ill from ingesting a water bead when she was 4 years old. Haugen and her husband had no idea why their little girl was so sick, and it wasn't until an exploratory surgery that they found the culprit. Kipley had water beads lodged in her intestines, and it was life-threatening. The incident was the impetus for Haugen to start a nonprofit organization.
"That Water Bead Lady is a 501 c3 founded in August of 2022," her website reads. "We help families navigate life after product injury and use the lessons learned from tragedy to protect others and create lasting change. We take pride in being the first non profit with a special focus on providing evidenced and experience based information about the full dangers of water beads to caregivers, clinicians, and communities. That Water Bead Lady become an invaluable resource for families, physicians, and communities in the wake of water bead injury, and a trusted authority in the areas of harm prevention, toy product injury, and impact focused advocacy messaging. No one's family member should be hurt irrevocably because of want for fun. In the unfortunate event of a product injury, we take pride in being here to assist you."
Another mom shared her story on Facebook.
In August, Haley Nickols, said her son had a "run-in with water beads," but thankfully, he was OK. She shared several instances of children who were harmed or died from ingesting the beads. Even before the recall, she urged parents to take the toys away from their children.
"For my Birthday I want to help save some kids lives by asking yall to help me get the word out. I am partnering with a non profit organization called 'That Water Bead Lady' which is making great strides toward affecting change in the marketing and labeling of water beads. They are working with laboratories, lawmakers, medical institutions, and lawyers to help make a difference BUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM IS SLOW!!" she wrote.
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Hundreds of children die from choking each year.
The New York Department of Health reported that choking is among the leading causes of accidental death in children under age 5. At least one child dies from choking every five days in the United States, and more than 12,000 go to the emergency room for food-choking injuries alone. The health department says that while some food and toy manufacturers label their items as a choking hazard, choking can happen with anything we put in our mouths.
It urges parents to stay vigilant to prevent choking: "Pay particular attention to those foods, toys and household hazards mentioned that pose choking hazards to ensure child safety."
