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Original poster

Button battery

39 replies

ShalommJackie · 30/03/2024 09:49

I am not being u but I need to spread this message! I'm a surgeon who removes these on a regular basis. (I'm off work at the moment with cancer but I've just been given the stats of how many batteries we've removed in the last year and it's gone up exponentially)

If you suspect your child has eaten a button battery, take them to A&E immediately as the battery can burn their oesophagus or stomach.

If your child is over 1 year old whilst either waiting for the ambulance or in the back seat of the car give them 10ml of honey every 10 minutes up to 6 times. The honey will coat the battery and protect their stomach from potential burns.

If your child is under 1 years old old. Do not give honey because of the risk of botulism in the honey because their immune system isn't strong enough. Just go to hospital immediately, it might be quicker just to put them in the car. *
*
I've added a photo to show the effect honey can have on button batteries.

Button batteries are in so many things these days it's so scary. If you've got toys with button batteries in them (bath toys etc) please put something like duct tape over the battery compartment so your child can't open it!

I hope this helps someone

Button battery
OP posts:
RuthW · 01/04/2024 14:12

My elderly mother swallowed one. Didn't tell me until a week later! She did nothing.

TeaWithHobnobs · 01/04/2024 14:09

Thank you for sharing this information @ShalommJackie
I didn't know about the honey, that's good to know.

I know of a young child who swallowed one of these batteries as a toddler. It wasn't immediately detected and by the time it was removed it had burned through the poor child's oesophagus.

The more people that know about the dangers of these batteries the better, both to children and pets.

BertieBotts · 01/04/2024 13:54

I would add I am finding button batteries increasingly used in the little cheap poorly made toys you get from amazon - I am forever sneaking them away from my DC after they have received in a party bag or similar. The toys are often so badly made that the battery compartment also has no safety features so it easily falls off. It's so dangerous.

BertieBotts · 01/04/2024 13:53

WhiskersPete · 30/03/2024 10:22

That's really useful thanks. However, I would say that the risk of harm from a swallowed button battery far outweighs the risk of catching botulism from honey to under ones so I would be give the honey anyway.

I had thought this too! I would definitely agree (not a doctor) - honey is to be avoided but it's such a tiny risk, and much less of a danger than a swallowed battery.

Good to know about the sticky substances anyway - will bear in mind thank you.

Original poster
ShalommJackie · 30/03/2024 10:26

WhiskersPete · 30/03/2024 10:22

That's really useful thanks. However, I would say that the risk of harm from a swallowed button battery far outweighs the risk of catching botulism from honey to under ones so I would be give the honey anyway.

It's just the nhs advice not to give a child under 1 honey. I didn't want to confuse things

www.alderhey.nhs.uk/what-to-do-if-your-child-swallows-a-button-battery/

OP posts:
WhiskersPete · 30/03/2024 10:22

That's really useful thanks. However, I would say that the risk of harm from a swallowed button battery far outweighs the risk of catching botulism from honey to under ones so I would be give the honey anyway.

Original poster
ShalommJackie · 30/03/2024 10:20

SilverMane · 30/03/2024 10:19

Thank you for this message, it's kind of you to take the time, & I wish you well in your lifeFlowers

Last year, regarding a child swallowing a button battery, I spoke to somebody who works in Social Services who said 'It isn't a big deal, it will just pass through the other end'

& a parent, who said 'It isn't dangerous like it used to be, they have a special coating on them nowadays'.

Oh my god that's just sent shivers down my spine. They're so dangerous!! They need banning really!

OP posts:
SilverMane · 30/03/2024 10:19

Thank you for this message, it's kind of you to take the time, & I wish you well in your lifeFlowers

Last year, regarding a child swallowing a button battery, I spoke to somebody who works in Social Services who said 'It isn't a big deal, it will just pass through the other end'

& a parent, who said 'It isn't dangerous like it used to be, they have a special coating on them nowadays'.

Original poster
ShalommJackie · 30/03/2024 10:17

Iudncuewbccgrcb · 30/03/2024 10:14

If you don't have honey would something like golden syrup do a similar job or is there specific quality to honey?

Syrup will work just as good. In fact you could probably give syrup to a baby under 1. It just needs to be thick.

OP posts:
Iudncuewbccgrcb · 30/03/2024 10:14

If you don't have honey would something like golden syrup do a similar job or is there specific quality to honey?

Original poster
ShalommJackie · 30/03/2024 10:11

Thank you for the kind words.

I need to spread awareness of this. It really is an awful thing. They need to ban them!!

OP posts:
Crumpleton · 30/03/2024 10:02

I don't know you but sorry to read you have cancer.

I did indeed know cell batteries were incredibly dangerous if swallowed but didn't know that honey could help, so thank you for educating on this.

Axx · 30/03/2024 09:58

Thanks for sharing, I didn't know about honey