Intermountain Health Doctors Warn About Dangers of Certain Toys for Young Children This Holiday
Dec 11, 2023
Small items can be a choking hazard for their kids, and as technologies have improved, small batteries and magnets have become a growing problem.
(PRUnderground) December 11th, 2023
The holiday season is here, and parents are trying to figure out what toys will wow their kids. Trauma surgeons at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital want parents to think twice because some toys can have hidden dangers for young children.
Parents usually think about small items that can be a choking hazard for their kids, but as technologies have improved, small batteries and magnets have also become a growing problem. While they may not always cause choking, there can still be severe consequences when ingested.
“Small magnets can be a big problem. We see a lot of cases where these magnets are ingested and move at different rates and then come together in different pieces of the intestines,” said Laurie Baumann, trauma surgeon at U of U Health and Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. “This can be very dangerous, as they will pinch the intestine which requires an emergency surgery. Small button batteries, which are now found in a lot of toys, can burn the esophagus or throat of a child, causing injuries that can be life threatening.”
The sign something is wrong may not be obvious to parents, especially if their child is too young to verbalize what happened. Then there may be a delay in care which can make the issue worse.
Doctors suggest doing research or even forgoing certain toys if there if you have children under three years old. For older children, it is important to teach them not to put certain objects in their mouth.
“Even after we’ve done an emergency procedure to fix the problem there can still be damage and a long way to go before a child is fully healed, including needing major surgery in the future.” said Dr. Baumann. “These toys aren’t bad, but may not be right to have in the home until your kids are a little bit older.”
Doctors remind parents to be mindful of choking hazards holiday gifts can cause even if they don’t include magnets or batteries. A good rule of thumb is to make sure a toy is larger than three centimeters in diameter and six centimeters in length to ensure it can’t fit in a small child’s windpipe.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.
The post Intermountain Health Doctors Warn About Dangers of Certain Toys for Young Children This Holiday first appeared on
Press Contact
Name: Glen Beeby Phone: (801) 507-2011 Email: Contact UsOriginal Press Release.
![[WEEKENDER] What are Korea's flagship K-defense exports?](https://newsimg.koreatimes.co.kr/2026/09/10/a4002ffe-dba9-4db9-93d9-c16c82194cc4.jpeg)
[WEEKENDER] What are Korea's flagship K-defense exports?
Korea has emerged as a major player in the global defense market, with its domestically developed weapons systems gaining traction for their competitive prices, advanced technology and fast delivery. From artillery and tanks to fighter jets and missile defense systems, Korean defense companies are expanding their global footprint and reshaping the country’s position in the international arms industry. K9 Thunder The K9 Thunder is Korea’s flagship self-propelled howitzer and one of the country’s most successful defense export items. Designed to provide mobile, long-range artillery fire support for ground forces, the 155-millimeter system can rapidly move, fire and relocate, making it well-suited to modern, highly mobile battlefields. The K9 is now used or being introduced by a growing list of countries, including Poland, Australia, Egypt, India, Norway, Finland, Estonia and Turkey. Poland has emerged as its largest export customer under a major deal to reinforce its artillery capabilities in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Redback IFV The Redback is Hanwha Aerospace’s nex
![[TEST DRIVE] Renault Filante blends commanding size with agile drive](https://newsimg.koreatimes.co.kr/2026/09/10/8c617c5a-b0f2-47a3-9fc4-65ffdc84498a.jpeg)
[TEST DRIVE] Renault Filante blends commanding size with agile drive
Renault Korea’s flagship crossover, the Filante, looks imposing at first glance, but feels surprisingly agile behind the wheel. Its planted ride, refined cabin and better-than-expected fuel economy give the large crossover a distinctive mix of comfort and driving appeal. The Filante was driven for about 400 kilometers on a round trip between Seoul and Daejeon, covering a mix of urban roads and highways. Across the route, the crossover delivered a stable ride and impressive fuel efficiency, making a strong overall impression. The Filante shares some of its design cues with Renault Korea’s popular Grand Koleos SUV, but carries a more upscale and sportier character. Measuring 4,915 millimeters in length and 1,635 millimeters in height, it has a substantial presence. Yet its low, flowing roofline and floating rear spoiler give the large body a sleeker profile, blending elements of a sedan and an SUV. The difference becomes more apparent once the car gets moving. The Filante’s driving character can be summed up in one word: planted. Its E-Tech hybrid powertrain combines a 1.5-liter turbo
Lawsuit accuses Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI, Google of AI pacing 'collusion'
AI companies Anthropic, OpenAI, Space XAI and Google are being sued over alleged collusion as pressure mounts to slow the rapid development of AI. The complaint, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, points to a recent proposal from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who called for “industry-wide coordination” to...
China’s GoPro rival Insta360 opens first US flagship store in New York’s Times Square
Chinese action camera maker Insta360 is deepening its US footprint with a flagship store opening in New York as it navigates escalating price competition with DJI and industry-wide memory cost pressures. The Chinese GoPro rival was slated to plant its flag in the heart of Times Square with its first flagship retail store in the US on Saturday, a marquee launch as the firm looked to “leap to the next stage of growth”, co-founder Max Richter said. “The US market plays a very important role for us...
This is the best way to migrate to a new iPhone or iPad
Just got a new iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max? You’ll want to read this first before setting it up.
Poco X8 defies its mid-range class with an IP69K water-resistant body, available in Singapore
Betting big on its durability is the Poco X8’s IP-rated resistances. Yes, multiple ones.
Xiaomi 18 Fold makes its debut at IFA 2026 with wide form factor and XRing O3 chip
Xiaomi’s new wide-screen foldable will launch in China on 7 September.
Sushiro Suntec City is getting a Pokemon makeover
The restaurant will anchor a nationwide Sushiro x Pokemon campaign that features themed dishes and collectables from 10 September to 22 October.
Hawley invites Flock, Axon, other surveillance tech CEOs to testify
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) invited the CEOs of Flock Safety and other prominent AI-powered surveillance camera manufacturers to testify before the upper chamber's Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism next week. Hawley, the subcommittee's chair, wrote on social media Friday that he “invited the CEOs of Flock Safety, Axon, Motorola and Verkada to testify in...
Gadget guide: What students must know before buying
MANILA, Philippines — Before spending their hard-earned savings on a new tool, student buyers need a reliable gadget guide to help them make informed and confident decisions on their next big purchase. We’ve created a list of things that students should remember, know, and avoid before deciding on their next gadget purchase that will empower
Spanberger announces tightened data center restrictions, clean energy mandates in Virginia
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) on Friday announced a new proposal to tighten restrictions on data center developments in the Old Dominion. The governor’s “Data Center Accountability Framework” outlines several objectives for the commonwealth’s approach to these projects, including cutting down on noise pollution and water use tied to these projects and promoting clean energy...
Texas agency suspends Flock camera approvals
The Texas Department of Transportation suspended issuing approvals for Flock’s automated license plate readers (ALPR) amid growing security and privacy concerns surrounding the technology. “TxDOT’s role is to review permits to ensure license plate readers are installed correctly and safely along state-owned roadways,” an agency spokesperson told NewsNation in a statement. “TxDOT does not have...
Who helped Samsung become chip giant
[WEEKENDER] K-defense exports enter new phase
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.