Button Battery Dangers for Kids: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Button battery child safety is an urgent concern for parents and caregivers, especially when it comes to young children. Button batteries are commonly found in household items like toys, remote controls, and musical cards, but they pose serious risks if swallowed. Button battery ingestion can cause life-threatening injuries including choking, internal burns and even death. This article outlines the dangers of button batteries, how to keep your child safe and what to do in the event of an emergency.
What is a Button Battery?
A button battery is a small, flat, circular battery often used in many household items like remote controls, toys, and watches. They vary in size, ranging from 0.5 cm to 2.5 cm in diameter. Sometimes referred to as coin batteries, these small power sources can easily be mistaken for lollies by children. Despite their size, button batteries can be extremely dangerous if ingested.
Button batteries are found in everyday items such as:
- Remote controls (Apple TV, car key remotes)
- Watches and calculators
- Toys and musical cards
- Flameless candles
- Hearing aids
Because of their size and widespread use, it’s likely you have button batteries in your home right now – whether you realise it or not.
Why Are Button Batteries Dangerous to Children?
If a child swallows a button battery, it can cause immediate life-threatening injuries. Once ingested, the battery can lodge in the throat or digestive tract, leading to a chemical reaction that can burn the tissues and organs. This process can cause severe internal injuries to the esophagus, heart, lungs, arteries, and even the spine.
Button battery ingestion can cause severe damage in as little as two hours—even if the battery is flat. The electrical current created by the battery when it comes into contact with saliva can trigger a dangerous chemical reaction that causes severe internal burns and can lead to death.
The Dangers of Button Batteries: Real-Life Cases
One tragic case involved four-year-old Summer Steer, who died in 2013 after accidentally swallowing a button battery. The battery lodged in her esophagus, and the chemical reaction from the battery caused burns that led to a fatal rupture of her aorta. Summer’s death highlights the serious consequences of button battery ingestion and underscores the importance of taking immediate action if a child swallows a button battery.
How to Keep Your Child Safe from Button Batteries
To reduce the risk of button battery injuries, take these important precautions:
- Keep button batteries out of sight and reach: Always store batteries, as well as devices containing them, in secure places away from children.
- Check toys and devices: Ensure that the battery compartments of toys and household devices are securely closed and not easily opened by children.
- Do not let children play with devices containing button batteries: Even if a toy is meant for older children, if it contains a button battery, keep it out of reach of younger kids.
Remember, button batteries are most dangerous to children under six years old, so extra care is needed when children of this age group are around.
What to Do If Your Child Swallows a Button Battery
First Aid for ingested button batteries:
Button battery ingestion is a medical emergency. Act immediately if you suspect your child has swallowed a button battery. Here’s what you should do:
- Remember this is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY. If you know or suspect you child has swallowed a button battery, you must act immediately.
- If your child is having any difficulty breathing, Call 000 immediately
- Take your child IMMEDIATELY to your nearest hospital Emergency Department
- DO NOT try to induce vomiting
- DO NOT give your child anything to eat or drink
- Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26
Symptoms of Button Battery Ingestion
It’s important to recognize the symptoms of button battery ingestion early. Signs may include:
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive drooling
- Lethargy or loss of appetite
Even if symptoms seem mild, it’s critical to seek medical attention immediately.
How to Prevent Button Battery Injuries at Home
Preventing button battery injuries requires vigilance and a proactive approach. Here are some steps you can take:
- Childproof your home: Store button batteries in secure containers or high cabinets where children can’t access them.
- Check devices regularly: Inspect toys, gadgets, and home electronics to ensure they are safe for children and their battery compartments are properly secured.
- Educate caregivers: Ensure everyone who cares for your child, including family members and babysitters, understands the risks of button batteries and knows how to act in an emergency.
Conclusion
Button batteries pose a serious threat to young children, but with the right precautions, you can keep your home safe. By securing devices that contain button batteries, being aware of the dangers, and acting immediately in the event of an emergency, you can help protect your child from these dangerous hazards.
Share this article with other parents and caregivers to spread awareness about button battery child safety and prevent tragic accidents.
Be Prepared – Enrol in a Kidsaver First Aid Class
They look like lollies and they can be fatal if swallowed. Button battery safety around children is paramount so enrol in a child focused Kidsaver CPR & First Aid Class today. These classes are practical hands-on sessions and your every question will be answered. Kidsaver are the ONLY CPR and First Aid Provider in Australia where ALL trainers are Specialist Paediatric currently practicing Registered Nurses with a minimum of 12 years industry experience & Masters qualifications in nursing education. The time you invest in a Kidsaver course may save a little life most precious to you. What Could Be More Important!
Kidsaver’s mission is to give as many parents, grandparents, family members, carers and friends as they can, the essential life-saving skills to keep their children safe in emergencies. Everyone is capable of providing first aid and CPR no matter what your background and experience is. Everyone is capable of saving lives.
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