Articles labeled: 8 year old swallows magnets

By now most parents are aware of the dangers of toys containing small powerful magnets. For those that aren’t, if more than one is swallowed they have the potential to attract each other and cause, let’s just say “gastronomic distress”. Usually reported cases where children were harmed or even died involve toddlers and babies — but in a recent case, an 8-year-old girl swallowed a whole mess of the things and now her parents want an all out ban:

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.

Doctors told Haley’s parents her intestines looked like they had been punctured by eight gunshot wounds or stab-like holes, Haley’s father told CBS’ Early Show on Monday; it is being reported by cbsnews.com.

Haley, who spent two weeks in the hospital, is lucky to be alive, doctors said, according to cbsnews.com.

Um, anyone else wondering why at that age this girl is swallowing thirty metal objects? One or two, maybe, but thirty? That takes some serious effort!