We know that keeping our (grand)children safe and happy is a top priority for parents and grandparents alike. That's why we feel it was our duty to inform you about a recent incident involving a popular Kmart toy that left two young girls with 'first-degree chemical burns' — a situation that could have been much worse, had the children ingested the toy's contents.

A concerned Queensland mum, Jesse, shared her alarming experience after her 18-month-old and six-year-old daughters sustained burns while playing with Kmart's sensory shaker toy during bath time. The incident arose after the toy began to leak and caused the children to scream out in pain.

Designed to provide sensory stimulation for children, the Kmart 'sensory shaker' toy offers the delight of watching glitter and liquid glide from one end to the other. Source: Kmart

'It's a scream I've never heard her scream before. She was in pain,' the distressed mother told The Today Show.

The family rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed the girls had suffered burns. However, neither the Kmart website nor the toy's description provided any indication of the product's contents, leaving medical personnel to conduct tests to identify the chemicals inside.

'They came back and said, 'it has a sort of phosphate acid in it,'' Jesse explained. 'You wouldn't believe they'd put something so toxic as part of the ingredients in a kid's toy,' Today host Sarah Abo commented, echoing many people's disbelief.

Jesse has since urged Kmart to either remove the product from shelves and perform additional tests to ensure its safety, or be more transparent about its ingredients.

'[Having] at least an ingredient list listed [would be good]. That way if a kid was to swallow it [then] it's as simple as looking up online the ingredient list, which is not there at the moment,' she reasoned. 'Luckily my daughter didn't drink it. I'd hate to think what would have happened if she did.'

In response to the incident, a Kmart spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia, 'We are really concerned to hear about this incident.' '[We are] taking this report extremely seriously and are looking into this customer’s experience with our quality team.'

The sensory shaker toy in question has been available in Kmart stores since July 2022, and this is the first reported instance of its kind.

Common Causes of Chemical Burns in Children​

A chemical burn can happen to anyone, especially children who are still learning about what's safe and what isn't. Parents and grandparents should be aware of some common causes of chemical burns in children which include coming into contact with the following: strong acids, strong bases, certain cleaning supplies, chlorine, petroleum products, and even certain plants.

Children should only be allowed to use cleaning products and hazardous materials under strict supervision, as they often don't understand the risk of what they're being exposed to. Some simple steps to take in order to prevent a potential chemical burn include making sure that the chemicals are kept out of the reach of children, and wearing protective gloves when using potentially hazardous materials.

Even plants can cause a chemical burn if they come into contact with a child's skin. Plants like poison ivy, stinging nettles, and the Rhus tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum)can cause an itchy, discomforting rash if touched. To avoid these kinds of problems, parents should teach their children to look out for these particular plants, and to make sure that young children understand that they should never touch these plants without adult supervision.

Key Takeaways

• A Queensland mum is calling for more transparency from Kmart after her two young daughters suffered 'first-degree chemical burns' while playing with a toy during bath time.
• The toy, a popular sensory shaker, leaked in their hands and caused the burns, prompting a rush to the hospital.
• There was no indication from the Kmart website or toy description on what it contained, forcing the hospital to conduct tests to identify the chemicals inside.
• Kmart confirmed it has been made aware of this incident and shared it is the first of its kind regarding these toys, taking the report extremely seriously and looking into it with their quality team.

The safety of children should always be a top priority for caregivers, as even seemingly harmless objects can potentially pose risks. It is crucial for parents to be aware of the causes of chemical burns and take necessary precautions to minimise such risks for their children.

As the investigation into the safety of the mentioned toy is ongoing, we want to emphasise the importance of vigilance when purchasing toys, especially for our Seniors Discount Club members who may be buying toys for their grandchildren. It is essential to thoroughly read and research the details of any product related to children's safety.

Now, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this story. What are your thoughts on the importance of ensuring children's safety and the need for careful consideration when purchasing toys? Share your insights and perspectives with us.

 

[RTS]

Hard plastic is brittle and prone to break.
Young mothers aren't given much information on a lot of toys and rely on retailers to carry out safety checks BEFORE selling products.

 

[kevinwoodtufftyke52@gmail]

I thought there was a government department that checks all imports for dangerous toys and goods? Are they not doing their job to protect Australians?