The balls are found not only in toys

They’re colorful and alluring, but Consumer Reports says there’s a potential safety hazard with popular small toy balls and beads that expand dramatically in water. There are many of those super-absorbent polymer balls on the market, although one was recalled late last year—Dunecraft Water Balz.

It was recalled after an 8-month-old swallowed one. She was rushed to the hospital, Home energy management where doctors couldn’t see anything on the X-ray. But in surgery they removed a ball almost 1 1/2 inches in diameter from her small intestine. Her pediatric surgeon said, “If nothing had been done, the intestines would have perforated, the child would have had significant infection and sepsis, and could have possibly died from it.”

Consumer Reports examined the recalled Dunecraft Water Balz fresh out of its package. And then the identical ball that soaked in water for two days. Consumer Reports also looked at tiny polymer beads that are still on the market, including Orbeez. Though their full size is much smaller than the banned Water Balz, Consumer Reports says that they also pose a safety hazard for small children. The products look a lot like candy or gum, but they can expand enough within a few hours to block the intestine or airway of a small child.

The Orbeez beads do carry warnings. On the front the package says, “Choking hazard … not for children under three years.” On the back it says, “Not suitable for children under the age of five.” Meanwhile Orbeez, whose beads are smaller than others on the market, says its tests show the toy is “safe for the children for whom it is intended.” Orbeez says the balls should pass through their digestive tract. Power monitor However, Consumer Reports points out the company did not address the choking hazard or the potential of a blocked airway, which is a risk for all children.

Although additional injuries have not yet been documented in the U.S., several have been reported in other countries, including one fatality. All types of super-absorbent polymer balls have been banned in Italy and Malaysia. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says it regards “the incident involving the 8-month-old girl to be very serious, and as a result CPSC staff are taking a broader look at this product class.”

The balls are found not only in toys but are also sold widely as decorations. Consumer Reports strongly urges that parents and caregivers keep those products out of the reach of small children.

Finding an accessory that has no exact replica is a rare find. Maryanne J. Cruz, owner of online fashion shop called the maArte shop, happens to offer just that and more.

“I only do one piece for each design and I don’t repeat my designs but I do acknowledge customization,” Cruz said.

Cruz noted that maArte accessories are all handmade fashion accessories which make use materials like wooden beads such as kamagong, buri, laminated wooden beads, colored wooden beads, and semi-precious stones like agate, turquoise, and rose quartz.

“I usually combine woods and stones because I have not seen anything like that so far because  as much as possible, I really want my designs to be unique, eccentric, and eclectic. The type of which could not be normally seen on malls or fashion stores,” she said.

Cruz’ pursuit for uniqueness has in fact garnered her with a lot of customers from abroad. She said that she now has clients from the United Kingdom, Canada, U.S.A., Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

According to Cruz, the raw materials she used like the kamagong and other wooden beads come directly from Cebu.

“In my first three months, I have sold more than a hundred pieces. but eventually, I was convinced that I should make more and sell more because the customers wanted more maArte stuff,” she said.

Although the business was already doing well in her first few years, she stressed that it further picked up when she started joining bazaars.

She noted that her customer base grew by as much as 70 percent after participating in various bazaars.

For a three-day bazaar, Cruz said that she sells more than a hundred pieces of her products on the average. Meanwhile, she sells about 40 to 50 items monthly through her online store alone.

Cruz’ products range from long earrings to different kinds of necklaces and bracelets. They are priced from P90 to P950.“My products are one of a kind. I make sure they are really unique. When I sell them especially in bazaars, I tell or share to my clients the story behind each piece that they want to purchase and hopefully it would fit their personality,” she added.

“I don’t have a physical store yet, so I only sell them online and in selected bazaars. Most of my clients are young professionals, students, older women in their 40s, 50s and 60s and I also make some accessories for men which is why I also have clients who are guys,” Cruz said.