Button Batteries
Smaller electronics often use powerful coin- or button-shaped batteries. If a child swallows one, it isnot like swallowing a coin: the battery can lodge in the esophagus, create a circuit, and cause serious tissue damage in as little as two to three hours. Treat any suspected ingestion as an emergency and seek care immediately.
Household examples
Toys and books for children must use secured battery compartments. Many adult items do not—and kids can still reach them. Common sources include bathroom scales, calculators, remote controls, key fobs, garage door openers, singing greeting cards, hearing aids, digital thermometers, and small flashlights.
Fact sheets and posters
- Button battery fact card
- Little known risk to small children (1)
- Little known risk to small children (2)
- Button batteries: what medical professionals need to know
- Informational poster—battery products
- Informational poster—large X-ray
- Informational poster—small X-ray
- Informational poster—young child by products
Local PSA
Safe Kids Grand Forks partnered with WDAZ on a button battery public service announcement. If the video file is hosted on your site, link it from your media library; contact us for the current file location.
More resources: safety information.