The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently proposed mandatory standards on high-powered magnet sets. This would set performance requirements based on the strength and size of the magnets, limiting which ones could be sold as a desk toy or manipulative.
These proposed standards stem from the serious health risks that can develop if the magnets are ingested. If more than one is swallowed, the magnetic force can cause the magnets to attract to one another internally.
This can result in damage to tissues and intestines, including punctures and obstructions. It can lead to health complications such as damage to internal organs, infection or even death.
According to CPSC, between 2009 and 2011, there were an estimated 1,700 injuries from these types of magnets that required emergency room treatment. About 70 percent of these incidences involved children between the ages of four and 12.
There is a 75-day period in which the public can comment on the proposed mandatory standards.
If you have questions or if someone you love has suffered a serious injury stemming from these magnets or another type of defective product, consult a New York defective product lawyer from Gacovino, Lake & Associates at 1-800-246-HURT (4878).
