Mattel Inc., of El Segundo, Calif., in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, is voluntarily recalling about 2.4 million Polly Pocket Magnetic Play Sets. The small magnets inside the toys can fall out, posing a serious hazard for small children. If two magnets are swallowed or aspirated, the can attract each other and cause all kinds of nasty problems, the least of which require immediate surgery. We're talking life and death here.

We know the danger and have heard this before; I'm surprised manufacturers still make toys with small magnets. Magnets simply aren't allowed in my house, no matter how cool the application. There have been 170 reports of the magnets coming out and three reports of children who swallowed more than one magnet and required surgery. The recalled toys are sets of plastic dolls and accessories with small magnets embedded in the dolls' hands and feet, in the clothing and hair pieces, and in various accessories. The specific sets being recalled are:

• Polly Pocket! Polly Place Hangin' Out House - Item B2632
• Polly Pocket! Polly Place Treetop Clubhouse - Item B3158
• Polly Pocket! Spa Day - Item B3201
• Polly Totally! Polly Place Totally Tiki Diner - Item B7118
• Polly Pocket! Quik-Clik Boutique - Item G8605
• Polly Pocket! Quik-Clik City Pretty Playset - Item H1537
• Polly Pocket! Quik-Clik Sporty Style Playset - Item H1538
• Polly Pocket! Totally Zen Playset - Item H3211

These sets were sold at discount department stores and toy stores beginning in May, 2003 up until September of this year. Please, take these away from your kids and contact Mattel immediately. Mattel is offering a voucher for a replacement toy of the customer's choice, up to the value of the returned product. For more information, contact Mattel at (888) 597-6597 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site.