Magnetix is a magnetic construction toy consisting of a combination of plastic building pieces containing embedded neodymium magnets, and steel bearing balls that can be connected to form geometric shapes and structures. Designed to be a cheaper version of the Geomag magnetic construction set, Magnetix's image suffered severely when an early manufacturing defect caused a death, and was subsequently sold under several different brands after the defect was corrected.
Magnetix 'Translucents' 180 Piece Set
The spheres are 0.588 in (14.9 mm) to 0.593 in (15.1 mm) in diameter (larger than Geomag), approximately 27.8 g (0.98 oz) in weight, and are prone to surface corrosion, unlike most other magnetic construction toys. The bars with magnets at each end are 27 mm (1.1 in) long, or 68 mm (2.7 in), or 53 mm (2.1 in) and flexible, or short rigid curves. Panel shapes include two types of interlocking triangles, interlockable squares, and circle or disks. The triangles and squares identify the North-South polarity of one of their embedded magnets. The disks identify all four magnets.
According to TD Monthly, a trade magazine for the toy industry, Magnetix sets were among the top 10 most-wanted building sets in 2005, and top sellers on web sites including Amazon.com, KB Toys.com, and Walmart.com.[1]
Product recalls by US Consumer Product Safety Commission
On March 31, 2006, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ordered a recall of all Magnetix brand magnetic building sets. The official CPSC recall notice[2] was issued after one death of a small child and four serious injuries requiring surgery. "Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed," according to the recall notice. Other brands of magnetic builders, such as Geomag were not recalled.
Recalled Magnetix toy with loose magnets
On April 19, 2007, the CPSC ordered further Magnetix recalls, recalling over 4 million sets. "To date, CPSC and Mega Brands are aware of one death, one aspiration and 27 intestinal injuries. Emergency surgical intervention was needed in all but one case. At least 1,500 incidents of magnets separating from the building pieces have been reported. ... If a child swallows more than one tiny powerful magnet detached from the plastic building pieces or one such magnet and a metallic object, the objects can attract to each other inside the intestines and cause perforations and/or blockage, which can be fatal, if not treated immediately." Redesigned Magnetix sets sold since March 31, 2006, that are age-labeled 6+, are not subject to the recall.[3]
As early as 2004, medical professionals were warning the medical community about the dangers of "multiple magnet ingestion",[4] but the case studies[5] never made it into the popular press. A pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Marsha Kay[6] of the Cleveland Clinic, is one of the first to write an article for the public on steps to take if a child is suspected of swallowing a magnet.[7]
References
^TDmonthly - TDmonthly’s Top 10 Most Wanted Building Sets
^. Archived from the original on 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2006-03-31.
^. April 19, 2007. Archived from the original on April 22, 2007.
magnetix, magnetic, construction, consisting, combination, plastic, building, pieces, containing, embedded, neodymium, magnets, steel, bearing, balls, that, connected, form, geometric, shapes, structures, designed, cheaper, version, geomag, magnetic, construct. Magnetix is a magnetic construction toy consisting of a combination of plastic building pieces containing embedded neodymium magnets and steel bearing balls that can be connected to form geometric shapes and structures Designed to be a cheaper version of the Geomag magnetic construction set Magnetix s image suffered severely when an early manufacturing defect caused a death and was subsequently sold under several different brands after the defect was corrected Magnetix Translucents 180 Piece Set The spheres are 0 588 in 14 9 mm to 0 593 in 15 1 mm in diameter larger than Geomag approximately 27 8 g 0 98 oz in weight and are prone to surface corrosion unlike most other magnetic construction toys The bars with magnets at each end are 27 mm 1 1 in long or 68 mm 2 7 in or 53 mm 2 1 in and flexible or short rigid curves Panel shapes include two types of interlocking triangles interlockable squares and circle or disks The triangles and squares identify the North South polarity of one of their embedded magnets The disks identify all four magnets Contents 1 Popularity 2 Product recalls by US Consumer Product Safety Commission 3 References 4 External linksPopularity EditAccording to TD Monthly a trade magazine for the toy industry Magnetix sets were among the top 10 most wanted building sets in 2005 and top sellers on web sites including Amazon com KB Toys com and Walmart com 1 Product recalls by US Consumer Product Safety Commission EditOn March 31 2006 the Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC ordered a recall of all Magnetix brand magnetic building sets The official CPSC recall notice 2 was issued after one death of a small child and four serious injuries requiring surgery Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed according to the recall notice Other brands of magnetic builders such as Geomag were not recalled Recalled Magnetix toy with loose magnets On April 19 2007 the CPSC ordered further Magnetix recalls recalling over 4 million sets To date CPSC and Mega Brands are aware of one death one aspiration and 27 intestinal injuries Emergency surgical intervention was needed in all but one case At least 1 500 incidents of magnets separating from the building pieces have been reported If a child swallows more than one tiny powerful magnet detached from the plastic building pieces or one such magnet and a metallic object the objects can attract to each other inside the intestines and cause perforations and or blockage which can be fatal if not treated immediately Redesigned Magnetix sets sold since March 31 2006 that are age labeled 6 are not subject to the recall 3 As early as 2004 medical professionals were warning the medical community about the dangers of multiple magnet ingestion 4 but the case studies 5 never made it into the popular press A pediatric gastroenterologist Dr Marsha Kay 6 of the Cleveland Clinic is one of the first to write an article for the public on steps to take if a child is suspected of swallowing a magnet 7 References Edit TDmonthly TDmonthly s Top 10 Most Wanted Building Sets Child s Death Prompts Replacement Program of Magnetic Building Sets Archived from the original on 2006 04 05 Retrieved 2006 03 31 Magnetix Magnetic Building Set Recall Expanded April 19 2007 Archived from the original on April 22 2007 Oestreich AE Multiple Magnet Ingestion Alert Oestreich Radiology 233 2 615 doi 10 1148 radiol 2332041446 PMID 15516625 Swallowing Multiple Magnets Poses Danger to Children October 26 2004 Archived from the original on November 5 2015 Marsha Kay M D Physician Directory Archived 2006 06 24 at the Wayback Machine Magnetic Toys When Attraction is a Health Problem Archived from the original on July 15 2006 External links EditMEGA Brands Product Recalls Toddler dies after ingesting magnetic toy Newspaper story from 2005 archived December 30 2010 Official Magnetix Product Recall Notice March 31 2006 from U S Government Consumer Product Safety Commission Official Magnetix Expanded Product Recall Notice April 19 2007 from U S Government Consumer Product Safety Commission Toy Remains in Stores After Child s Death Washington Post story Mega Brands Magnetix promotional site Mega Brands America To Pay 1 1 Million Civil Penalty For Reporting Violations With Popular Magnetic Building Sets news release from the U S Government Consumer Product Safety Commission May 18 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Magnetix amp oldid 1053125247, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
