If you think your child has swallowed or inserted a button battery, don’t wait for them to show symptoms.
Call the Poisons Information Centre urgently for expert advice on what to do 24 hours, 7 days A WEEK:
In an emergency situation,
call for an ambulance:
The symptoms caused from swallowing a button battery can look like other illnesses. Symptoms may include chest pain, coughing, vomiting, trouble swallowing etc.
Button batteries can become stuck in a child’s throat without blocking their airway. You may not even know that it’s in there. An estimated 20 children go to hospital every week in Australia with a button battery related injury.
Look for items with button batteries.
Keep items and loose batteries out of reach of children.
Secure the battery compartment.
Dispose of them immediately and safely.
The symptoms caused from swallowing a button battery can look like other illnesses. Symptoms may include chest pain, coughing, vomiting, trouble swallowing etc.
Adults can accidentally swallow button batteries too. Hearing aid batteries can look like medications, especially in the dark. Follow the checklist above to reduce the risk of injury.
