As families across the UK prepare for Christmas, a stark warning is being issued over a tiny but deadly hazard hidden in many festive gifts and decorations: the button battery.
Hidden Danger in Festive Homes
These small, coin-shaped batteries power countless items associated with the season, from children's toys and light-up books to musical cards and TV remotes. However, if ingested by a child or pet, they can cause fatal injuries within just a few hours.
Scott Colton, a Senior Lecturer in emergency department nursing at Birmingham City University (BCU), emphasised the grave risk. "If a child puts one in their nose, ears or swallows it, it can react with the mucus and cause severe damage and, unfortunately, even death," he stated.
Hospital Admissions Have Doubled
The urgency of the warning is underscored by alarming new data. The number of children hospitalised for swallowing small objects has doubled over the past ten years.
BCU Associate Professor Dr Andy Powell and Mr Colton have produced a graphic safety video to illustrate the speed of the damage. Using pig oesophagus tissue, the time-lapse footage shows the severe harm a common button battery can inflict in just two hours.
"The video shows how quickly the damage occurs. We also show that batteries that are ‘dead’ can still cause significant damage," Dr Powell explained.
Recognising the Symptoms and Acting Fast
A major challenge for parents is that symptoms can be vague and easily mistaken for common childhood illnesses. Mr Colton listed potential signs, which include:
- Coughing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Irritability
- Drooling
- Bleeding or bloody stools
If ingestion is suspected, immediate action is critical. "Take them immediately to A&E at your local hospital or dial 999, telling them you think that they have swallowed a button battery," Colton urged.
He also gave vital first-advice: Do not let the child eat or drink, and do not try to make them vomit. If possible, take the battery packaging to help medical staff identify the type.
Essential Safety Recommendations
To keep children safe this Christmas and beyond, experts recommend these key steps:
- Keep all batteries, especially spare ones, locked away and out of children's reach.
- Learn which devices in your home contain button batteries and ensure their compartments are securely fastened.
- Dispose of used batteries quickly and safely.
- If you suspect a battery has been swallowed, seek medical help without delay.
With vigilance and awareness, families can help ensure the festive season remains a time of joy, not tragedy.
