Battery Safety
Battery Safety
Tiny Batteries, Big Risks
Button batteries may be tiny but can cause big problems. These little coin shaped lithium batteries show up in all kinds of everyday items like remotes, watches, hearing aides, singing birthday cards, toys, and more. Due to the curious nature of children, they often end up in small hands and sometimes small mouths.
Nearly 3,000 kids end up in emergency departments each year with potentially serious medical issues after swallowing button batteries. If a child swallows a button battery, it can react with their saliva and start causing serious internal burns in as little as two hours and become life-threatening within six hours.
In case of an emergency, dial 911. You can also call the National Button Battery Ingestion Hotline at 1-800-498-8666. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Safe Battery Habits
Secure Children's Toys
Most children’s toys have a screw to hold down the battery storage. Be sure they are tight and secure before letting your child play with it.
Ensure Proper Storage
Batteries often come in large group packages, while most children’s toys only need one or two. Double check that all loose batteries are out of reach of children and locked away.
Up and Away
Children's curiosity quickly leads to exploration and testing boundaries. As they do, be sure to store batteries and other small objects up and away in a safe place.
