Magnetix facts for kids
Magnetix was a magnetic building toy. It used plastic pieces with small magnets inside them. It also had steel balls that connected the pieces. You could use these parts to build many different shapes and structures. Magnetix was made to be a cheaper version of another toy called Geomag. However, early versions of Magnetix had a serious problem. This issue led to a major recall of the toys. After the problem was fixed, the toy was sold under different names.
What Are Magnetix Pieces Like?
The Magnetix sets included different types of pieces. These included small metal spheres. They were about 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) wide. These spheres were a bit bigger than those in Geomag sets. They weighed about 28 grams (1 ounce). Sometimes, the surface of these metal balls could rust.
The sets also had plastic bars with magnets at each end. These bars came in different lengths. Some were about 2.7 centimeters (1.1 inches) long. Others were about 6.8 centimeters (2.7 inches) long. There were also flexible bars about 5.3 centimeters (2.1 inches) long. Some pieces were short, curved, and rigid.
Magnetix sets also had flat panel shapes. These included triangles and squares that could interlock. There were also circular disk pieces. The triangles and squares showed which side was North or South for their magnets. The disks showed the direction of all four magnets they contained.
How Popular Was Magnetix?
Magnetix toys were very popular for a while. In 2005, a magazine for toy companies called TD Monthly said that Magnetix sets were among the top 10 most wanted building toys. They were also bestsellers on websites like Amazon.com, KB Toys.com, and Walmart.com.
Why Were Magnetix Toys Recalled?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is a group in the US that helps keep products safe. They ordered a recall of all Magnetix building sets. This happened on March 31, 2006. A recall means that people should stop using the product right away. This first recall was ordered after a serious accident involving a small child. There were also four other serious injuries that needed surgery. Other magnetic toys, like Geomag, were not recalled at this time.
On April 19, 2007, the CPSC ordered an even bigger recall of Magnetix. This recall included over 4 million sets. The CPSC and the toy company, Mega Brands, knew about one death and 27 serious internal injuries. Most of these injuries needed emergency surgery. There were also at least 1,500 reports of magnets coming loose from the plastic pieces.
The problem was that if a child swallowed more than one tiny, strong magnet, or a magnet and a metal object, the magnets could pull together inside the body. This could cause serious blockages or holes in the intestines. These injuries could be very dangerous if not treated quickly.
However, newer Magnetix sets were made after March 31, 2006. These sets were labeled for ages 6 and up. These redesigned sets were not part of the recall. Doctors had been warning about the dangers of swallowing multiple magnets since 2004.
