LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Norton Children’s Hospital is highlighting the dangers of button batteries that may come with toys children receive for Christmas.
Over the past month, Norton Children’s emergency department has treated two cases of button battery ingestion, though thankfully, neither was fatal.
Symptoms of swallowing a button battery can include drooling, abdominal pain, and refusal to eat or drink.
Norton Children’s experts also advise parents to check toys for loose or fragile parts that could break off and pose choking risks for younger children. They recommend inspecting battery compartments to see how securely they are fastened.
“Button batteries are a huge concern because of their size—they’re very small,” said Kinsey Evrard of Norton Children’s Prevention and Wellness. “If a battery compartment isn’t secured and a child opens it and swallows a button battery, caregivers might not even realize the child is choking. It could go down without issue at first, but the problem shows only later when symptoms appear. By then, it can be too late.”
Norton Children’s added that spending a few extra minutes checking toys before letting children play can help prevent serious injuries.
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