Transcript
What to do?
Prevention:
Treatment:
1. See a doctor immediately! An X-ray may be ordered. 2. Do not try and make your child vomit. Do not allow him to eat or drink. 3. Is the battery in the nose or ears? Do not use ear drops. Seek medical help immediately.
1. Do not insert or change batteries in front of small children. 2. Do not store near food (especially finger foods), medicines, or pill containers. 3. Always recycle batteries or wrap securely and throw away. 4. Keep products with button batteries out of reach of your children and properly secure them in any item.
Get medical help immediately! If your child has swallowed a battery, it may be necessary to have the battery be immediately removed. Have the doctors check to see if any part of the esophagus and intestinal tract has suffered any injury. Battery ingestion cases have resulted in death when the battery was not taken out in a timely fashion or if the child was not properly monitored after the removal of the battery.
What happens if you don’t see your child swallow the battery? There are many signs that can indicate that a child has swallowed a battery. Pay attention to the following signs, especially if they persist. If you suspect anything go immediately to a doctor and ask for X-ray. Watch for the following: • • • • •
Fever Stomach pain Wheezing Drooling Coughing
• • • •
Chest pain Gagging Choking Vomiting
Button batteries have become more popular and more powerful. They can be found in the some of the following items: • • • • • • •
Remote controls Garage door openers Bathroom scales Cameras Audio greeting cards Handheld video games Flashing jewelry
• Pen lights • Digital thermometers • Cell phones • Keychains • Toothbrushes • Watches
BATTERY HOTLINE 202.625.3333 POISON CONTROL 1.800.222.1222
Battery Beware Did your child swallow a button battery?
Act Fast!
Every year 3,500 people in the United States swallow “disc” or “button batteries.” Larger batteries are more dangerous, especially those larger than 25 mm. This includes batteries with these serial numbers: CR2032, CR2025, or CR2016. Swallowing is especially dangerous for young children as these batteries may get stuck in the throat or esophagus. The battery creates an electrical current and a chemical burn. Burns happen even if the battery is not “leaking” or damaged. Burns can occur as soon as two hours after swallowing. These batteries can lodge in a child’s esophagus and cause death as well as numerous long-term disabilities including the inability to talk or swallow as well as the incapacity to breathe on one’s own. Dead batteries can be equally dangerous. Take care to dispose of them properly.
The majority of this information was developed by physicians at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The information on the pamphlet was derived from Dr. Toby Litovitz’s website:
button battery dangers
www.poison.org/battery “If we can spare one family this unimaginable pain and suffering and give one child his/her future, than we will be doing something for our children! Please don’t be fooled, these are deadly weapons. Our lives will never be the same. We never saw our daughter swallow the battery and took her several times to the pediatrician with some of the complaints. If we had been armed with this information we would have known to request an x-ray and have immediate and appropriate action taken!” Cara George - Brenna’s Mom “There are no words to describe the pain you feel after losing a child. We never got to hear the words ‘I love you.’ We will always wonder ‘what if.’ Since Aidan’s passing I have felt a constant need to share his story in hope that it may save another one’s life and spare a parent from their worst nightmare. The symptoms can commonly resemble those of a cold, we had our son to the doctor several times before knowing he had swallowed a button battery. We had no idea just how dangerous these batteries were and how common they are in your everyday household products.” Michelle Truett- Aidan’s Mom
These might not look dangerous to your child...don’t be fooled. They are!!!!
Brenna Duffy George Aidan Truett In Loving Memory
BATTERY HOTLINE 202.625.3333 POISON CONTROL 1.800.222.1222
