WARNING: KEEP BATTERIES OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
• Swallowing may lead to serious injury in as little as 2 hours or death, due to
chemical burns and potential perforation of the oesophagus.
• If you suspect your child has swallowed or inserted a button battery
immediately call the 24-hour Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (in
Australia) or 0800 764 766 (in New Zealand) for fast, expert advice.
• Examine devices and make sure the battery compartment is correctly secured,
e.g. that the screw or other mechanical fastener is tightened. Do not use if the
compartment is not secure.
• Dispose of used button batteries immediately and safely. Flat batteries can
still be dangerous.
CAUTION: No obvious symptoms
Unfortunately, it is not obvious when a button or coin battery is stuck in a
child's oesophagus (food pipe).
There are no specific symptoms associated with this. The child might:
• cough, gag or drool a lot
• appear to have a stomach upset or virus
• be sick
• point to their throat or stomach
• have a pain in their abdomen, chest or throat
• be tired or lethargic
• be quieter or more clingy than usual or otherwise 'not themselves'
• lose their appetite or have a reduced appetite
• not want to eat solid food/be unable to eat solid food
These types of symptoms vary or fluctuate. with the pain increasing and then
subsiding.
A specific symptom to button and coin battery ingestion is vomiting fresh
(bright red) blood. If the child does this seek immediate help. The lack of clear
symptoms is why it is important to be vigilant with 'flat' or spare button or
coin batteries in the home and the products that contain them.
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