Warning Labels and High-Powered Magnet Exposures

• DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-056325
• Publication Date: 2022-10-03T10:06:58Z
• Authors: Leah K. Middelberg; Julie C. Leonard; Junxin Shi; Arturo Aranda; Julie C. Brown; Christina L. Cochran; Kasi Eastep; Maya Haasz; Jennifer A. Hoffmann; Alexander Koral; Abdulraouf Lamoshi; Steven Levitte; Yu Hsiang J. Lo; Taylor Montminy; Sara Myer; Nathan M. Novotny; Raphael H. Parrado; Wenly Ruan; Amanda M. Stewart; Saurabh Talathi; Melissa M. Tavarez; Peter Townsend; Julia Zaytsev; Bryan Rudolph
• Keywords: Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Magnets; Humans; Morbidity; Child; Foreign Bodies; United States; Retrospective Studies; Play and Playthings; 3. Good health

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES High-powered magnets are among the most dangerous childhood foreign bodies. Consumer advocates and physicians have called for these products to be effectively banned, but manufacturers assert warning labels would sufficiently mitigate risk. METHODS Subjects from Injuries, Morbidity, Parental Attitudes Concerning Tiny Magnets (IMPACT of Magnets), a retrospective, multicenter study children with high-powered magnet exposures (ie, ingestion or bodily insertion), were contacted. Consenting participants responded standardized questionnaire regarding presence utility labels, product manufacturer, attitudes around RESULTS Of 596 patients in IMPACT study, 173 parents 1 adult patient reached consented participate. The median age was 7.5 years. reported not knowing if label present 60 (53.6%) cases, whereas 25 (22.3%) stated warnings absent. Warnings 28 (24.1%) cases only 13 (46.4%) reading them. A manufacturer identified by families (16.1%) exposures; domestic 27 had warnings. 58% although 44.3% believed they children’s toys 6.9% knew previously removed United States market. CONCLUSIONS Over 90% subjects didn’t know failed read them were, almost half toys. Warning on are, therefore, unlikely prevent injuries children.