When a child swallowed a button battery on Christmas Eve, her Mom knew she had to move fast. Her Colorado family had driven through a Christmas light show earlier that day, and received a small gift package. When they returned home they continued with their Christmas preparations, while their four-year-old daughter Elana explored the gift.
The Child’s Button Battery in the Package
The small package from the Christmas light show contained battery-powered lights and bracelets. ‘You can be the most observant, most caring parent in your household but … it can happen,” the mother told ABC News later, from the hospital treating her four-year-old daughter.
Tragically, the mum did not realize the tiny button battery in one of the bracelets did not have safety screws holding it in place. When she looked up, she thought Elana was choking on a piece of food. When the other children told her it was a battery, she rushed her to the local hospital.
The emergency staff there knew the situation could be very dangerous, after a child swallowed a button battery. They took an x-ray to confirm the situation, and then rushed Elana to a specialist children’s hospital. The mother must have spent a sleepless night waiting for surgery the following morning.
They Got the Battery Out But the Effects Linger
It was a relatively easy job to remove the button battery, thanks to modern surgery, but the side effects lingered at the time of writing. The battery had stuck in the esophagus leading from the four-year-old child’s throat to her stomach, and perforated the mucous lining causing several more infections.
This battery contained an electrical charge that was supposed to illuminate the bracelet. But in this instance, the battery terminals contacted the child’s mucous membrane in her throat, allowing the electricity to flow. This should not have happened if there were safety screws holding the battery in place.
More Information
Know Your Child Swallowed a Battery
Button Battery Danger in Public Places
