Button batteries are used in toys, remote controls, hearing aids, watches, and other household items. But one doctor says those batteries can be dangerous if they end up in the wrong hands.
Dr. Gabriel Campion, Assistant Medical Director at Northridge Hospital, told KNX News’ Karen Adams that children can easily swallow the batteries, which cause life-threatening injuries.
“If it's stuck on the esophagus and it starts to burn through, it can actually cause a hold to form the esophagus which can be very, very dangerous or even deadly if it's not treated,” he said.
He said that burning can cause vomiting, fever, stomach pain, and death if not treated quickly.
“We really don't find that they've swallowed this battery in the first two or three hours after it happens, then you can have damage start to happen pretty quickly,” he said.
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To prevent this from happening, Dr. Campion urged parents to check the battery compartment after buying a toy or a household item.
“See if that's easily open because if it's sitting around, a child can get into it,” he said. “Children will get into anything they can and try and take that battery out or if you're buying a battery for something, make sure that's away from where they can reach it.”
In October 2023, a group of medical associations issued a position statement urging manufacturers of these button batteries to make them safer if swallowed.
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