A leading battery manufacturer has released a product that could prevent children harming themselves, by swallowing batteries. We try to stay away from promoting specific products, but thought we should make an exception in this instance.
Because the number of innocent children hurt this way keeps on growing, and one child that suffers harm is too many, and this has to stop.
How Children Swallowing Batteries Became a Problem
This problem crept up on us unawares, but can cause serious bodily harm. If we pop a small battery into our mouth, we may feel a warm tingling feeling. This tells us the battery is discharging through the moist membrane in our mouth.
Children sometimes like to do this as a game, especially with flat shiny penny batteries that look like sweets. If they laugh with delight they may swallow them, releasing the battery to do its deadly work in their digestive system.
Battery maker Energizer relays a startling claim in the press release we link to below. This certainly confirms we need to save children from harm from these batteries.
Their statistic is from the National Capital Poison Control Center, that reports thousands of these injuries around the world every year. Urgent medical attention can prevent further harm. But, the problem is kids often don’t want to tell their parents …
How Could These Batteries Save Children?
Energizer says its new product tackles this spreading problem in three ways:
- The battery packaging is difficult for children (even adults) to open.
- The product colors the mouth blue if it contacts saliva, warning adults.
- The battery case prevents discharging through bodily membranes.
But the press release is silent about how that third strategy works in practice. ABC News suggests the new penny battery case is a special titanium alloy, instead of stainless steel. We sure hope these batteries do indeed save little children from harm.
More Information
Advice for Parents: Do a Penny Battery Audit
Penny Button Batteries Could Harm You
