Holiday Toys and the Dangers of Button Batteries

Button batteries can be found in a variety of electronic devices including many toys that children receive during the holidays. Things like wristwatches, calculators, toys and even recorded Christmas cards all use button batteries. Unfortunately, their small size means that they can be easily swallowed by children. 

The Texas Poison Center Network wants you to know that button batteries are the most harmful type of battery for young children if swallowed. They can get stuck in the esophagus, leading to serious injury and is the leading cause of death by ingestion. Poison control centers across the United States report that about 3,500 button batteries are swallowed each year.

The symptoms of battery ingestion include vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and swallowing. Many times, swallowed batteries pass through the intestines and safely exit the body. This is not always the case, however, as they can easily get lodged in the esophagus.

Batteries stuck in the throat cause an electric current and can leak corrosive chemicals, like alkaline electrolyte, that can cause internal damage. When this happens, a buildup of the chemical hydroxide may occur, causing dangerous burns within a couple of hours. Unfortunately, the damage caused can continue long after the battery is removed.

If your child ingests a battery, this is what you should do:

·         Immediately call your poison center at 1-(800)-222-1222.

·         Dial 9-1-1 immediately if someone: 

• Stops breathing. 
• Collapses. 
• Has a seizure.

·        Don't induce vomiting

Swallowing batteries can be dangerous. Search your home for devices that may contain button batteries. Secure button battery-controlled devices out of reach of children and keep loose batteries locked away.

For more information, call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Poison centers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year for poisoning emergencies and for informational calls, too.