Industry Science Popularization
What should you do if a child accidentally swallows a button battery?
September 23 2025 Editor Becky W
Button batteries at home could be a ticking time bomb for children! This is no exaggeration—if a child accidentally swallows one of these tiny batteries, the consequences are far more severe than swallowing ordinary foreign objects. Fatal damage can occur within just two hours.
Swallowing button batteries is extremely dangerous and can lead to the following situations:
1. Physical choking. Like all small objects, button batteries can cause choking if lodged in the throat or windpipe. This poses a significant danger to children.
2. Electrochemical burns. This is a uniquely lethal hazard posed by button batteries. Once lodged in narrow passages like the esophagus, the situation rapidly deteriorates. Electrical leakage occurs when the battery’s positive and negative terminals come into contact with moist human tissue, forming a circuit that causes the body’s tissues to be electrolyzed.
3. Chemical burns: In cases of chemical leakage, even if the battery casing remains intact, the electric current can electrolyze bodily fluids into highly corrosive alkaline liquids, causing severe burns to surrounding tissues. Such burns may result in significant tissue necrosis within just two hours and lead to fatal hemorrhaging or esophageal perforation within hours.
4. Heavy metal poisoning: If the battery casing ruptures inside the body, heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, and lithium may leak out, causing poisoning and damaging organ function.
Prevention is the best way to protect children.
First, store batteries properly. Keep unused button batteries in locked containers or high places where children cannot open or reach them. Dispose of used batteries immediately and properly—never leave them on tables or toss them into open trash cans. Cover both terminals with tape before discarding to prevent short circuits and accidental ingestion.
Do not allow children to play with items containing button batteries, especially remote controls, key chains, and small electronic devices. When replacing batteries in devices, ensure children are not nearby to prevent them from imitating or handling the batteries out of curiosity.
Next, when purchasing toys, remote controls, or other products that use button batteries, choose items where the battery compartment requires a screwdriver or special tool to open. Ensure the compartment cover screws are tightened securely. This prevents children from easily opening it out of curiosity, thereby avoiding the risk of accessing the batteries. Finally, regularly educate children about the dangers of ingesting such hazardous items and reinforce warnings.
What should you do if a child accidentally swallows a button battery? Below is a scientifically detailed treatment plan.
1. If accidentally swallowed, seek immediate medical attention!Don’t wait for symptoms to appear! Take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately and clearly inform the doctor that you suspect accidental ingestion of a button battery.
2. Do not induce vomiting. Inducing vomiting forces the battery back through the esophagus, causing secondary burns. Do not allow the child to eat or drink anything! This includes water, milk, bread, etc. This may accelerate battery leakage or increase surgical difficulty.
3. Provide information. If possible, bring the same model of battery or the product manual for the doctor to review, so they can quickly understand the battery’s composition and size.
Finally, I hope everyone knows this information but never has to use it. A simple precaution can prevent a family tragedy.