We had hoped everybody knew about the problem of kids swallowing penny batteries but it seems some parents still do not. That’s at least ‘down under’, where the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission released a safety warning. The latest urgent Australian warning reminds us of the fatal risks to children we have written about so many times before.
An Age Old Story Repeated in the Urgent Australian Warning
Shiny penny batteries looking like sucking sweets are everywhere in toys and games, remote controls for appliances and electronics. Not to mention garage door openers, key fobs, torches, kitchen scales, musical greeting cards, and other accessories.
If a child sucks a button battery and forgetfully tries to swallow it, it can be caught somewhere in their digestive system. When that happens, the opposite sides can contact sensitive flesh in a narrow bio-tunnel. The penny battery can then complete a circuit and the energy can cause serious burns. That in a nutshell is the subject of the urgent Australian warning.
The Limited Defenses Open to Parents of Vulnerable Children
This is an international problem. Child resistant button battery packaging is helping. However the major problem is a ‘spent’ button battery still retains 70% of its charge. It may not have sufficient energy to power a device, but still has sufficient power to harm a child.
This problem, subject of the urgent Australian warning is not going to vanish anytime soon. Protective coverings may insulate new batteries, but which of us retain these to isolate old ones? The solution lies in responsible parenting, training, and management of spent batteries. It’s a pain we agree, but until now we cannot think of another solution.
Kids swallowing penny batteries often keep it a secret because they want to stay out of trouble. Your best way out is creating a culture of trust. That’s a value system where they tell you right away what happened, and you can rush them off to hospital for care before serious harm.
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Preview Image: Button Batteries Everywhere
