(WJET/WFXP) – A bill has been introduced on the floor of the U.S. Senate that would make it illegal to sell water beads designed and marketed to children.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) have introduced a bipartisan bill called “Esther's Law.” , “prohibits the sale of water beads designed, intended, or sold.” As a toy, educational material, art material or sensory tool for children. ”
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), water beads are small and squishy and can grow beyond their original size when they absorb water, making them a target as a sensory tool for children. There is a possibility.
“With thousands of children hospitalized in the last few years alone, it is clear that this product is not getting into the hands of children. This bill will keep children out of the hospital and bring more We can prevent families from facing the nightmare of polka dot ingestion,” said Senator Casey.
The law is named after 10-month-old Esther Jo Bethard, who died several months ago after swallowing water beads her older siblings were playing with.
“Esther's Law” would restrict children's access to water beads by directing the CPSC to:
- Establishes a ban on water bead products sold to children as toys, educational materials, sensory tools, or art materials
- Consider regulating the color of other water beads that pose an ingestion risk to limit their appeal to children.
- Require warning labels on packaging of water beads used for other purposes
“No family should have to think about how to explain the death of a child to siblings or how to spend holidays and birthdays without the child. Ever. But especially not because of toys. No. Esther's Law will help ensure other families don't have to endure the same senseless tragedy,” said Taylor Bethard, Esther's mother.
Additionally, a bill introduced last year by New Jersey Congressman Frank Joseph Pallone Jr. proposed banning water beads sold to children, but would also include measures on warning labels and limit the color of water beads. It did not include measures such as a ban on water beads sold to children as a sensory stimulant. tool.
