▁between ▁two ▁magnet s ▁or ▁a ▁magnet ▁and ▁a ▁metal ▁surface , ▁even ▁causing ▁broken ▁b ones . ▁ ▁Mag net s ▁allowed ▁to ▁get ▁too ▁near ▁each ▁other ▁can ▁strike ▁each ▁other ▁with ▁enough ▁force ▁to ▁chip ▁and ▁sh atter ▁the ▁brit t le ▁material , ▁and ▁the ▁flying ▁ch ips ▁can ▁cause ▁inj uries . ▁ ▁Starting ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁powerful ▁magnet s ▁breaking ▁off ▁to ys ▁or ▁from ▁magnetic ▁construction ▁sets ▁started ▁causing ▁inj uries ▁and ▁death s . ▁Young ▁children ▁who ▁have ▁sw allowed ▁several ▁magnet s ▁have ▁had ▁a ▁fol d ▁of ▁the ▁dig est ive ▁tract ▁pin ched ▁between ▁the ▁magnet s , ▁causing ▁injury ▁and ▁in ▁one ▁case ▁int est inal ▁per for ations , ▁se ps is , ▁and ▁death . ▁▁ ▁A ▁volunt ary ▁standard ▁for ▁to ys , ▁perman ently ▁f using ▁strong ▁magnet s ▁to ▁prevent ▁sw allow ing , ▁and ▁c apping ▁un connected ▁magnet ▁strength , ▁was ▁adopted ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁a ▁sudden ▁growth ▁in ▁sales ▁of ▁magnetic ▁des k ▁to ys ▁for ▁adult s ▁caused ▁a ▁sur ge ▁in ▁inj uries , ▁with ▁emer gency ▁room ▁vis its ▁estimated ▁at ▁ 3 , 6 1 7 ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁In ▁response , ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Cons umer ▁Product ▁Saf ety ▁Commission ▁passed ▁a ▁rule ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁restrict ing ▁rare - ear th ▁magnet ▁size