Emergency doctors in the UK are warning parents about the potential dangers of water beads, a popular item that may be gifted to children this Christmas.
These brightly colored, soft plastic beads—often referred to as jelly balls, sensory beads, or water crystals—are marketed as crafting tools and home décor items but are also used as toys.
Water beads typically measure just a few millimeters in size but can expand up to 400 times their original size within 36 hours when exposed to liquid. If swallowed, they can cause bowel obstructions, posing severe risks, including fatal outcomes.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has issued a “safety flash” urging doctors to remain vigilant about this hazard and advising parents and carers to keep water beads away from children under five years old.
The beads, which are not detectable on X-rays, can also present a choking hazard. Incidents of harm to children have been reported in the UK, and similar cases abroad have resulted in fatalities, according to the government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards. The office recommends that water beads only be used by older children or vulnerable adults under close supervision.
Parents and carers are urged to seek immediate medical attention if there’s any suspicion that a child has swallowed a water bead.
“Having seen the devastating effects firsthand, we urge everyone to carefully consider the risks when selecting gifts this holiday season,” said Dr. Salwa Malik, Vice President of the RCEM.
The RCEM’s alert also highlights the dangers posed by other small items, such as button batteries, coin batteries, and magnets, if swallowed.
