Two-thirds of Australian parents are unaware of the symptoms of button battery ingestion, according to a study by the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ). This Halloween, Dr. Anna Girardi—a speech pathologist and button battery safety researcher—urged parents to take extra caution, as these small, shiny batteries are often hidden in popular Halloween toys, decorations, and other common household items.
"Button batteries can become a hidden hazard, especially during festivities when young children are around new toys and decorations," Dr. Girardi said. The study revealed that only half of parents knew how to safely dispose of button batteries, which is critical in preventing unintentional ingestion by children or pets.
If swallowed, a button battery can get stuck in a child's esophagus and start causing severe, potentially irreversible damage within just 15 minutes. Children who survive a button battery injury may face a lifetime of health issues, particularly with swallowing and eating. Tragically, in severe cases, button battery ingestion can be fatal.
Signs a child has swallowed a button battery include: More than 20 children are rushed to emergency departments across Australia each week due to suspected button battery ingestion. Despite new button battery safety standards introduced in June 2022, products with non-compliant packaging continue to reach Australian households. Parents and caregivers are urged to take these safety steps: The study also recommended on.