Button batteries are those tiny round silver batteries that look like a 5 pence piece. Most button batteries pass through the body without a problem. But if a lithium coin cell battery gets stuck in the food pipe, energy from the battery reacts with saliva to create caustic soda. This is the same chemical used to unblock drains!
They can badly hurt or kill a small child if they swallow one causing choking, burning or poisoning. The battery can burn through the food pipe, to the main artery and lead to catastrophic internal bleeding and death. The chemical reaction can happen in as little as two hours. However, sometimes it takes days or even weeks.
Lithium coin cell batteries can also cause life-changing injuries. There is a risk that the food pipe is too badly damaged for a child to eat normally again or the vocal cords are too badly damaged for a child to speak normally again.
Check out the damage a button battery did to this ham. Think of the damage it could do to your child.
Children often swallow batteries without anyone noticing. Symptoms may initially present similar to the common cold or flu. They include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, excessive dribbling, cough, gagging, vomiting (blood or brown stained), or pain. Hard for any parent to spot.
If you suspect a child has swallowed a battery, take the child immediately to Accident & Emergency or call 999.
In the meantime, offer them a spoonful of honey every 10 minutes. This can halt the chemical reaction process temporarily.
Do you know where they are hiding in your home? What products have button batteries? Where are the spare batteries, in a box that can be reached easily? Or in an unlocked draw?
Button batteries are used in toys, novelty items, gadgets and other everyday objects you’ll find around the house. Particularly present at Christmas, they are used to light up toys, found inside Christmas decorations, make the noise inside Christmas cards and other novelty Christmas items. Just because they are inside toys, it doesn’t mean they are safe. In some instances they aren’t even screwed in so easily accessible to children. They could even fall out.
Here are a few places that button batteries may be lurking in your home:-
Can you find them? If you do please keep them out of the reach of children and stay safe.
