by Jess Gibson
A new campaign to make parents aware of the risks and dangers posed by small, everyday items has been launched by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).
The focus is particularly on small objects such as magnets and button batteries, which have caused increasing concern in recent years due to related accidents among young children.
The campaign, ‘Small Hazards, Big Harm’, features up-to-date resources that sit alongside the button battery top tips poster launched in May, which was developed in collaboration with accident prevention charities, clinicians, manufacturers, online marketplaces, and trade associations.
The campaign will include a new video featuring Samantha McCarthy, whose two-year-old daughter had to have lifesaving surgery after swallowing 14 tiny magnetic balls in 2021.
Campaign resources have been designed for local authorities, consumer bodies, community groups and the public to help protect children, including posters and social media materials.
Updated ‘Small Hazards, Big Harm’ resources can be found here.