Ind. parents want magnetic toy off store shelves

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By Beth Boehne

HUNTINGBURG, Ind. (AP) — The parents of an 8-year-old southern Indiana girl who swallowed 20 marble-size steel balls and half as many magnets from a building set want the toy completely removed from stores.

Haley Lents of Huntingburg underwent emergency intestinal surgery last month in Indianapolis after she swallowed pieces from her Mega Brands Magnetix MagnaCase set.

She was taken to the emergency room for stomach pains, and an X-ray revealed the force from the magnets had torn her intestines in eight places.

Her family plans to meet soon with an investigator from the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission to discuss ways to keep other children safe.

"We're going to work toward getting them out of the schools and off the shelves," said Jason Lents, Haley's father.

Mega Brands spokesman Harold Chizick said the toy was not the same product as one that was recalled in March. "This is not a recalled or defective product," he said. When the toy, which includes warnings regarding age-appropriate use, is used as directed there is no risk, he said.

"I think if a child would swallow 30 of any toy, an action figure or anything, they would require surgery," Chizick said. "This is a very isolated incident."

Mega Brands recalled about 2.4 million Chinese-made toys in March because the small magnets could fall out. The recall said more than one magnet, if swallowed, could attach to each other and cause intestinal perforation, infection or blockage, which can be fatal.

Two years earlier, Mega Brands recalled 3.8 million Magnetix sets because one child died and four others were seriously injured after swallowing magnets in the toys.

In April 2007 that recall was expanded to include an additional 4 million Mega Brands magnetic toys.

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Information from: The Herald, http://www.dcherald.com

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