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Dangerous ‘bladed’ fidget spinners which could cause severe damage and even puncture children’s eyes and skin can be found for sale on eBay.

The popular gadget has become the latest craze to sweep the nation with school playgrounds full of children using the pocket-sized toy.

But an investigation discovered a number of the gadgets have been so poorly made that they failed basic toy standards tests, reports Daily Mail.

Blades expert, Professor Sarah Hainsworth, told BBC’s Watchdog, which aired last night, that she carried out tests on three spinners found on eBay.

She said she found the spinners were able to puncture a tomato – used as a substitute eye – and pork skin, used as human skin.

Professor Hainsworth judged all three of the gadgets to be dangerous.

She told the show: ‘We took these spinners and we looked at the sharpness of the points on them.

‘We stabbed them into two different materials. We stabbed them into tomatoes which is a relatively soft material which mimics the strength of an eyeball, for example.

‘We found that for all three of the spinners you can stab a tomato using very moderate force. This could potentially a very significant injury to the eye.

‘We also wanted to see if they could damage the skin and we used pork skin which is an analogue for human skin.

‘We found that for two of the spinners we could stab into the skin. It demonstrated to us that they are capable of creating injury.’

When asked about the dangerous fidget spinners, eBay said: ‘These items are absolutely not permitted and will be immediately removed.

‘We’d like to thank the programme for bringing these items to our attention.’

A spokesman said: ‘Always buy from a reputable seller – and don’t buy these toys for children under three as they have small parts that could present a choke hazard to children.’

Safety tips for parents and carers:

  • These products are not suitable for children under three years of age, they contain small parts that can pose a choking hazard to young children. Infants and toddlers are particularly at risk from toys with small parts that break away, because they have not yet fully developed their natural gagging reflex. Always be mindful to give your children age appropriate toys;
  • Be mindful of the design of the product and steer clear of any that have sharp edges or points that may pose a laceration or puncture risk;
  • For any products that contain button batteries ensure that they have a secure battery compartment that either –
    requires a screwdriver to open the battery compartment, are secured with a child-resistant locking mechanism, or require two independent and simultaneous movements to access.
  • Any products containing button batteries that are fully enclosed within the product should be robust enough to be dropped without breaking. Button batteries are very hazardous and can kill a child if ingested;
  • Always follow any usage instructions carefully;
  • And nothing replaces close supervision from parents and carers.

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  • yeah who the heck would let their kid buy this particular version anyway! i wouldn’t be and besides, i think that this whole fidget spinner craze is dying out anyway, the kids are already moving on to the next best thing.

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  • Can’t imagine any manufacturer making these, let alone any one buying them. They look lethal!

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  • Now reading this would give me chills. Why would parents allow to their kids to Play with such thing. It is so dangerous.

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  • Good grief! Honestly, correct me if I’m wrong, but this is a primary school age craze and if you aren’t aware that your primary school aged child has a dangerous fidget spinner then there is a huge problem of supervision going on here! How would any parent think that these types of spinners would be OK?

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  • Why as a parent would you let you kids have this? Very dangerous in the wrong hands.

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  • I can’t believe that families can live there kids with this kind of toys

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  • Very poor to even try and class them as fidget spinners.

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  • The are weapons not fidget spinners – who in their right mind would buy these particular ones for children? The people selling them should be charged with selling an unlicensed weapon!

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  • They certainly look like weapons to me, not children’s toys

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  • I know that Australian customs confiscates items which show blades, I wonder why some make it through and some don’t.

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  • They look like knives !
    My kids have fidget spinners, but it has never been a craze.

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  • Insane!!

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  • Wow! What started as a simple and possibly beneficial toy has turned into a lethal weapon. Why would the manufacturers even consider making such a thing, let alone parents buying them?!


    • I imagine they evolved as so many things do.

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  • These clearly look dangerous! I do not understand the whole craze and we do not have any fidget spinners. There are items that are recommended by Occupational Therapists that people with sensory issues can use for sensory input.

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  • They look like weapons, i wouldn’t be buying my child one like pictured !

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