Lawsuits are being filed by parents of children who were injured or died after swallowing Orbeez and other water bead toys that expanded inside the body.
Need a Texas Orbeez Water Beads Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If your child was injured after swallowing Orbeez water beads, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
Target, Amazon, Walmart Stop Selling Orbeez Water Beads
In December 2023, Target, Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers announced that they would stop selling Orbeez and other water bead toys marketed toward children due to a risk of severe injury and death.
What Are Orbeez?
Orbeez are a popular children’s toy also known as water beads. These tiny beads are only the size of a cupcake sprinkle, but when you put them in water, they expand to the size of a marble or larger.
What is the Problem?
The problem is that Orbeez can be deadly if they are swallowed by children and pets. Even swallowing just one tiny Orbeez water bead can cause a life-threatening injury, intestinal blockage, or death.
Other Hidden Dangers of Water Beads
Children can also choke to death or suffer other injuries when they put Orbeez into their nose or ears. To exacerbate these problems, Orbeez are nearly invisible on X-rays, making it hard for doctors to diagnose a life-threatening intestinal blockage when a child is taken to the ER.
What is the Risk?
- Intestinal obstruction or blockage
- Vomiting and severe dehydration
- Emergency surgery
- Nose and ear damage
- Hearing loss
- Choking
- Seizures
- Death
Swallowing Orbeez Can Cause Intestinal Obstruction
When they are swallowed, Orbeez can absorb fluid in the body and expand inside the intestines until they get stuck. This is called an intestinal obstruction, and it is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate surgery.
Orbeez Manufacturer Hit With Class Action Lawsuits
In October 2023, a class action lawsuit was filed against Spin Master by a woman who claims that Orbeez water beads are dangerous. Spin Master is accused of failing to warn parents about the safety risks of Orbeez, false advertising, fraudulent conduct, and more.
The lawsuit was filed on October 31, 2023 in the U.S District Court for the Central District of California — Case Number 5:23-cv-02242.
What Do Lawsuits Claim?
In recent years, lawsuits have been filed against Spin Master and other manufacturers by angry parents who say they were never warned about the life-threatening safety hazards of Orbeez and other water bead toys. Many of these lawsuits involve children who needed emergency surgery and are suffering from long-term health issues.
Water Beads Are Easy to Lose, Tempting to Swallow
Water beads are nearly irresistible for children to swallow. They are rainbow-colored and look like candy or sprinkles. When fully hydrated, they are squishy and interesting to play with.
They are also easy to lose, making it nearly impossible for parents to keep away from little children. Dry water beads may only be the size of a pinhead, making them nearly undetectable if they are spilled in a playroom or accidentally dropped on the floor.
Can Water Beads Kill You?
Yes. Tragically, at least 2 children have died and many children have been injured or needed surgery after swallowing Orbeez and other brands of water beads.
According to Poison Control:
“6-month-old boy suffered a bowel blockage after swallowing a single superabsorbent polymer bead given to him by a neighbor. The infant underwent surgery to fix the intestinal obstruction but later developed an infection and died.”
In July 2023, a 10-month-old girl from Wisconsin died after swallowing a water bead. Her parents said she was found lifeless in her crib. Her death led to a major recall from Target for the Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kit.
The same kit was also linked to a serious injury involving a 9-month-old baby from Maine who swallowed a water bead and needed emergency surgery for an intestinal obstruction.
Thousands Of Children Injured By Water Beads
Overall, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that there were 7,800 emergency room visits between 2016 and 2022 for children who swallowed water beads.
Water Beads Also Pose a Choking Hazard & Other Risks
Water beads are also a choking hazard, especially in children under 3 years. There are also reports of children who were injured after putting water beads in their nose, ears, or breathing them into their lungs.
Signs & Symptoms Your Child Swallowed Orbeez
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the warning signs that your child may have swallowed water beads are:
- Refusing to eat
- Lethargy
- Drooling
- Vomiting
- Wheezing
- Complaints that something is stuck in the throat or chest
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Abdominal swelling and soreness
Can I Join a Class Action Lawsuit?
The Clark Firm, LLP is filing individual lawsuits for children who were injured by Orbeez and other types of water beads. If your child swallowed a water bead, needed surgery, suffered an intestinal obstruction, or was injured by putting a water bead in their nose or ears, we may be able to help you file a lawsuit and seek financial compensation.
Need an Orbeez Water Beads Lawyer in Texas?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years of experience, participation in over 600 jury trials, and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.
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