"We are in the process to try and 4address this, but 5in the meantime, we want to make sure that parents, childcare centers, schools 6are aware of the risk."

The U.S. 7Consumer Product Safety Commission says water beads can 8expand up to 100 times their initial size and weight when 9exposed to liquid. If a child 10swallows them, the beads can lead to vomiting, 11dehydration, 12intestinal 13blockages, and 14life-threatening injuries that may require surgery. Emergency departments treated nearly 8,000 injuries caused by the toys between 2016 and 2022, and at least one child died. Since they're made mostly of water, the agency says typical X rays may not 15pick up on them in the body, leading to delayed care. 

"A lot of doctors may 16misdiagnose and think that the child is just sick and send the baby home, and we've heard that again and again." 

To keep children safe, remove water beads from any area with small children, especially those three and younger. Store water beads in a secure container where young children can't get to them. And if you 17suspect a child has ingested a water bead, seek immediate medical attention. 

"Highlight this for the doctor, who may not be thinking about it, and they can take a closer look at the X-ray 18sonograms."