Preventing Coin Lithium Battery Injury
Small electronics like the ones pictured below are convenient and portable, but they run on coin lithium batteries – which can pose a safety risk to young children if swallowed.
A few important safety facts:
- About 3,500 coin lithium battery swallowing cases are reported every year
- Children under age 4 are at greatest risk
- Coin lithium batteries can get stuck in a child’s esophagus
- Swallowing can cause serious injury in less than two hours
- Symptoms of ingestion are coughing, drooling and discomfort
- Storing spare batteries out of a child’s reach is critically important
- Purchase child-resistant battery packaging that requires scissors to open
Energizer’s Commitment
Energizer is working to eliminate injuries from coin lithium battery ingestion through:
Device Designs
We actively participate in standardizing warning language and device design to make it harder for children to access battery compartments.
Research & Safety Standards
We continue to collaborate with health and safety professionals to research the chemical reaction when coin lithium batteries are swallowed – and help find a solution.
Child-resistant Packaging
Energizer is the first battery manufacturer to introduce coin lithium battery packaging that voluntarily complies with child-resistant packaging standards and recommendations made by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Awareness Efforts
In 2011, we launched the first industry-led effort to raise awareness of the coin lithium battery issue among parents and caregivers through a partnership with Safe Kids Worldwide, the National Capital Poison Center, and other health and safety organizations.
Suspect a swallowing? What to do NOW:
- Take your child to the Emergency Room immediately
- Tell doctors and nurses it might be a coin lithium battery and ask them to call Poison Control at call 800-498-8666 for treatment information
- Provide the battery size or manufacturer part number from the battery’s package, if possible
- Do NOT let the child eat or drink until an X-ray determines if a battery is present
- Do NOT induce vomiting
Important safety links to keep handy
www.BatteryIngestionHotline.com or call 800-498-8666
www.SafeKids.com