If you have kids over the age of five, it’s likely your home has a few fidget spinners lying around. These trendy toys have recently taken over playgrounds, but they’re not without their hazards, as one Texas mom’s story illustrates.
Meet Lisa Thompson, a mom who had an unforgettable Saturday when her daughter, Emily, 10, ended up in surgery after swallowing a piece of her fidget spinner. Lisa recounts how, during the drive home from a swim meet, she heard Emily making strange “retching noises” from the backseat. Concerned, she pulled over to find her daughter’s face red and drool escaping her mouth.
Emily pointed at her throat, indicating she had swallowed something. Lisa attempted the Heimlich maneuver, but there was no resistance. Emily explained that she’d been trying to clean her fidget spinner and had accidentally swallowed one of its parts.
In a panic, Lisa rushed Emily to urgent care, where doctors couldn’t determine if the object was in her airway or esophagus. An ambulance whisked them away to Texas Children’s Hospital, where x-rays revealed that a small metal disk known as a bushing was stuck in Emily’s esophagus.
The surgeon, who Lisa describes as “intrigued” by Emily’s case, had just learned about fidget spinners that morning while at the mall. He took a keen interest in the case, especially as he advocates for safe children’s toys. Emily underwent endoscopic surgery to remove the lodged bushing.
Lisa reflects, “We were relieved to have a positive outcome, but it was terrifying—first with the ingestion, then worrying about what it was made of, and finally the risks of anesthesia.”
After this harrowing experience, Lisa wants to warn other parents. “Fidget spinners are all the rage, but not all of them come with age-appropriate warnings. The bushings can pop out easily, so if you have little ones, be aware of the choking hazards.”
As a mom of two kids aged seven and nine, I’ve seen how easily these toys can lose their parts. Thankfully, my daughter who tends to put things in her mouth has lost interest in hers, but I plan to have a serious chat with her about it.
And let’s skip the “where were the parents?” comments—kids can do ridiculous things in seconds. No parent can watch their child every moment, and accidents happen. Kudos to Lisa for sharing her story; it could save another child from a similar fate—or worse.
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Summary
A Texas mom’s story of her daughter swallowing a fidget spinner part went viral, shedding light on the potential dangers of the popular toys. After a trip to the hospital for surgery, she warns other parents about choking hazards associated with these toys, emphasizing that accidents can happen in the blink of an eye.