​Written by Kate Ellwood First Aid Instructor (December 2019)
​​LifeFirst provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. LifeFirst is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

Some babies have been strangled by looped cords hanging into their cot. This could be a string from a bag, or a blind cord, or a ribbon trailing into the cot. If you’ve got cot toys, make sure they’ve got short ribbons, and take them out of the cot when your baby goes to sleep. If there are cords nearby, like blind cords, make sure they are tied up high so that your baby can't reach them.

If your baby has a dummy (pacifier), the cord or string on the dummy can get looped around his neck. Although it might be annoying to keep retrieving lost dummies, having no cord on them is safer than tying them to your baby’s clothes.  If you do still want to tie them to your baby's clothes, keep the ribbon shorter than 150mm to reduce the risk of strangulation.

​Curious toddlers are especially vulnerable to strangulation because their heads weigh proportionately more than their bodies compared to adults and their muscle control isn’t fully developed, which makes it harder for them to free themselves if they get tangled up. Plus, their windpipes are smaller and less rigid than those of adults and older children. This means they suffocate far more quickly when their necks are constricted. In fact, it can take just 15 seconds for a toddler to lose consciousness if they get tangled in a blind cord. Death can occur in just two or three minutes.

​Even if your cords or chains are well out of the way, your child might still reach them. If your toddler can scramble up on chairs, beds, cots and tables, make sure they are well out of the way of blind cords or chains and other hanging strings and loops.​ 

NEVER cut a blind cord, as this will not only stop your blinds working, it can actually make your blinds more dangerous
​
​You can also fit safety clips like those shown below:

​Roller Blind Cord/Chain Safety Clips

​ Strangulation Safety Tips

• Always clip blind cords right out of reach or use cordless blinds
• Never hang anything on the side of a cot or within reach of the child
• Small children should not wear necklaces or dummies round their necks
• Cot bumpers with ties should be avoided

​P.S.
As I was searching and reading around for this post I was reminded of the work of the Child Accident Prevention Trust. Their website is a goldmine of excellent, age appropriate safety advice that I would urge all parents to take a look at! 
​ https://www.capt.org.uk/capt-safety-advice  

App 112 BE
If you have a smartphone, the app 112 BE is one of the possibilities to contact the emergency centres when you are in distress and need urgent assistance of the fire brigade, an ambulance and/or the police in Belgium.

On the 112.be website there are 2 short films using sign language (in French) explaining how to use the app and SMS function:  https://112.be/en/for-deaf-people

Advantages of the 112 App:
​

•   3 emergency services, 1 app: you don't need to remember the emergency numbers. You just click on the icon of the fire brigade, ambulance or police, depending on the type of assistance you need.

 

•    Localization: the emergency centres can find you more easily by means of the GPS function on your smartphone thanks to this app.  When your "location" is switched on in your smartphone, the app sends your location to the emergency centre as soon as you call and then sends an update of your location every 30 seconds for as long as you are calling.  If you called the emergency centres and you don't respond anymore after that, then the emergency centres let your smartphone ring so that the emergency services can find and help you more easily.

 

•    Chat function: as a deaf or hearing-impaired person, or as a person with a speech impediment, you can mention this while registering the app by checking this option.  The app will then activate the chat function when you make an emergency call by means of the app, allowing you to communicate with the emergency centre by means of messages.

 

•   Extra information: you can also provide certain medical information, such as a heart condition, allergies (to medication), epilepsy, diabetes, ... The operator has this information even before you have said something and can give this information to the emergency centres that come to help you.

Attention:

• Both the app 112 BE and the SMS service are only available in Belgium
• When you can contact the emergency centres by means of a normal voice call, please do not use the chat function of the app or the SMS service. By asking questions orally the operator can anticipate the answers faster.  Moreover, by means of a normal voice call operators can provide medical accompaniment such as resuscitation instructions

Download and register for the 112.be app:

With a good internet connection it only takes 112 seconds to download, install and register the app on your smartphone. To do so, go to the app or play store on your smartphone, insert “app 112 BE” in the search box and download the app. After the installation of the app you best put it immediately on the home screen of your smartphone so you can easily find it when you're in distress.  After that you only need to register.  This registration only consists of 2 screens with a number of short questions.
​
I hope of course you will never need the app, but do register so you can contact the emergency centres using the app when you, your family or your friends need urgent assistance.

​Written by Kate Ellwood First Aid Instructor and Assessor (October 2019)
​​LifeFirst provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. LifeFirst is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

A poison is any substance (a solid, liquid, or a gas) which can cause damage if it enters the body in sufficient quantities.  It can be swallowed, breathed in, absorbed through the skin or injected.  Substances such as prescription or non-prescription drugs, household cleaning and DIY products and some plants and fungi can be harmful if you swallow them.  

Some poisons cause an all over reaction and can result in seizures, blurred vision, acute anaphylaxis and can be fatal – be cautious and always get the child quickly seen by a medical professional.

What to look for
If you think a child may have swallowed poison, these are the five key things to look for:

1. Nausea and vomiting (sometimes blood-stained) and later diarrhoea
2. Cramping stomach pains
3. Pain or a burning sensation
4. Partial loss of responsiveness
5. Seizures

What you need to do 
1. If the child is responsive ask them what they have taken, when they took it and how much they took.  Look for clues - for example poisonous plants, berries or empty containers. The emergency services will want to know this information. When you go to hospital, take the packaging and the remains of anything you think they have swallowed as this will help the doctors to treat them in the best way possible.
Tip : If a child has swallowed a berry from a plant – take a photo of the plant and a leaf as well to show to the doctors

2. Call 112 as soon as possible.  If you can’t call 112, get someone else to do it. The substance could be extremely harmful and the person may need urgent medical attention.

3. Do not make the person sick!  By making them sick, you can cause further damage to their throat or block their airway.  But, if they vomit naturally then put some of their vomit into a bag or container and give it to the ambulance crew. This may help them identify the poison.

4. If the casualty's lips are burnt by corrosive substances, ideally get them to swill milk or water around their mouth and spit it out and then give them small sips of milk or water to dilute the product down their throat.

5. If the casualty becomes unresponsive and stops breathing, you will need to resuscitate them by giving them breaths followed by chest compressions.   

If the casualty is contaminated with chemicals remember to protect yourself and wear protective gloves, goggles and/or a mask.  If they have become unresponsive and stopped breathing after eating something corrosive – protect yourself if doing mouth to mouth resuscitation.  This can be done with a pocket mask or plastic bag with a hole in it – cover the mouth with the bag and breath through the hole in the bag into the nose – thereby protecting yourself and ensuring that you are not burnt as well.

​For all urgent questions about poisoning in Belgium you can call  the:

Antigif Centrum/Centre Antipoisons

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Suspected poisoning is one of the most common reasons for young children to be taken to A&E.

Did you know…?

• Child-resistant tops and strip and blister packs for tablets help to slow children down but they are not childproof. Some 3-4 year olds can open them in seconds!

 

• Swallowing medicines, like everyday painkillers that you might keep in your handbag or bedside cabinet, is the most common way for children to be poisoned.

 

• The detergent capsules and concentrated liquids under the kitchen sink can harm children too – they can cause accidental poisoning but also squirt into the eyes and cause damage. The capsules come in boxes that aren’t child-resistant.

Safety reminders – how to prevent children from being poisoned

First steps
At around 6 months babies start to put things in their mouths, which means they are at risk of swallowing something harmful. You can stop them from getting hold of poisonous things.

The best place to keep medicines is locked away or up high where your baby can’t come across them. Fit safety catches on any low cupboard doors and drawers and make sure bottle tops and lids are on properly.

Don’t forget the painkillers in your handbag on the floor or the ones on the bedside table.

Before your baby starts to crawl and move around, move the cleaning products from around the toilet or under the kitchen sink into a high cupboard out of sight.

Look out for products that contain a bittering agent like Bitrex. It tastes so horrible it means that children are much more likely to spit the dangerous chemical out.

Remember, the newer liquid detergent capsules can be dangerous too - if children squeeze or bite them the liquid can squirt out. Keep them stored safely away.

Toddlers
Toddlers love to explore and will copy what you do. This means they are more at risk from poisoning than any other age group. Here’s how to make sure your toddler stays safe from poisoning. 

Keeping your medicines and cleaning things locked up or out of reach and sight is the safest way to protect your toddler. Ideally put them in a high lockable cupboard. It’s best to keep them in a room which people use a lot. That means if your child has climbed up on a chair or worktop and is exploring in cupboards they are more likely to be seen by an adult or brother or sister.

'Child resistant' caps are not 'child-proof'. Some 3-4 year olds can open them in seconds, so make sure they're locked away too.

Toddlers like to copy what you do. Try to take your medicine when your toddler isn’t watching.

Avoid pretending your child’s medicine is a sweet, even if it’s hard to get them to take it. It can be confusing for your toddler.

When you’re visiting friends or relatives, take a few moments to look out for medicines or cleaning products lying around, like in Granny’s bedside table, so you’re not taken by surprise.

Even small amounts of alcohol can be harmful to small children, so clear up any glasses with alcohol dregs left in them.

Remember to be careful with aromatherapy oils, perfumes and cigarettes too as they can all be harmful to small children.

Young children
Children between 3 to 5 may know something about what they can safely eat, but they are still at risk from accidental poisoning. They are much more likely to be able to open child-resistant tops too. 

Your child may easily be confused by colourful medicines that look like sweets. So keep them locked safely away and in the original bottles.

Do the same with cleaning products, DIY or garden chemicals, whether they are kept in the house or the garden shed.

Plants in the garden can be confusing too. Teach your child not to eat anything they pick outside. Poisonous berries can easily look like the ones they have in their pudding!

Carbon Monoxide 
You can't see, smell or taste it but if but if carbon monoxide creeps out from flame burning appliances it can kill children in seconds. 
Make sure that you have an audible carbon monoxide alarm fitted in your home – ideally one in every room with a fuel-burning appliance.  Available from GAMMA and Brico they are not so expensive...

Medicine use and storage: specific tips

If your child or another family member needs to take medicine, there are some simple things you can do to minimise the risk of accidental poisoning or overdose:

• Read the label, dosage and instructions carefully when your child needs to take medicine. Double-check everything before you give your child the medicine. If you’re not sure about how much to give or for how long, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

​

• Avoid distractions when giving your child medicines. If possible, have a normal routine for giving or taking medicines. And always supervise your child while she’s taking medicine.

​

• Set up a ‘checking system’ with your child’s other caregivers to avoid giving your child double doses of medicine.

 

• Ask your pharmacist to put child-resistant caps on your medicines if they’re not already on the bottle. Make sure you always put the caps back on the bottles immediately and correctly after use.

 

• Clean out your medicine cupboard regularly. Get rid of unwanted and out-of-date medicines and other poisons. You can return unwanted medicines to your local pharmacist for safe disposal.

 

• Rinse empty medicine containers with water before you throw them out.

 

• Refer to medicines by their proper names, rather than calling them ‘special lollies’.

It’s also a good idea to be careful when friends come to visit. For example, make sure their bags are out of your child’s reach, because the bags might contain medicines.
​

Adapted from the Child Accident Prevention Trust website at https://www.capt.org.uk/poisoning-prevention by Kate Ellwood First Aid Instructor and Assessor (July 2019)
​
​LifeFirst provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. LifeFirst is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

When is the recovery position advised?
The recovery position is essential when a casualty is unconscious and breathing normally. It is a sensible way of positioning someone to allow the tongue to flop forward and any fluids to drain out, ensuring they do not enter the airway. If the casualty stops breathing normally at any time, or demonstrates agonal breathing, you should start CPR.
Professor Keith Porter (Professor of Clinical Traumatology) has developed a further option that makes it easier for one person to roll someone into the recovery position with minimal movement of their spine.

The recovery postion with a spinal injury
NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) estimate that approximately 700 people sustain a new spinal cord injury each year in the UK.  In the UK there are currently 40,000 people living with long term disabilities as a result of such injuries.

Helping the casualty to maintain a clear airway is critical and takes priority over any suspected spinal injury, as if their airway is blocked they are unable to breathe. Therefore, to maintain an open airway, anyone who is unconscious and breathing, should be rolled onto their side into the recovery position. Spinal injuries can be unstable and it is vital that in moving the casualty, you don’t cause further damage to the spinal cord.  If there are multiple people able to assist, then supporting the head and neck, and log rolling the casualty may be a better approach to minimise movement to their spine. However, if you are on your own, Professor Porter’s alternative approach is simple and effective. 

It is incredibly important to keep the spine in line and avoid them twisting. It is vital to keep checking the casualty is breathing.

Benefits of the new recovery position for suspected spinal injuries:

1. Reduces risk of movement to spine and inducing paralysis
2. Easier for a solo first aider to perform

How to do it:
Check out this film from First Aid For Life:
​youtu.be/-fbLFE4X3gE

World First Aid Day was introduced by the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in 2000. It is a global opportunity to raise public awareness of how first aid can save lives in everyday and crisis situations.  In recognition of this day here are:

10 Powerful Reasons To Learn First Aid

1 – First aid saves lives
Basic first aid can mean the difference between life and death. A Red Cross survey showed a staggering 59% of deaths from injuries would have been preventable had first aid been given before the emergency services arrived.

2 – First aid can speed your recovery
First aid can have a huge impact on someone’s chances of recovery, and can mean the difference between them having a short term or more permanent disability.

3 – First aid reduces time in hospital
Early intervention with first aid can reduce the length of time the patient needs to stays in hospital.

4 – First aid prevents medical situations deteriorating
Knowing the basics of first aid can prevent a bad situation from getting worse. Consider a patient who is bleeding from a deep cut. Without intervention, the patient could suffer severe blood loss. By applying pressure using simple first aid techniques, you can prevent a medical emergency from rapidly deteriorating and stabilise the patient until further medical help arrives.

5 – First aid can reduce unnecessary visits to hospital
Not every accident ends up in hospital but still needs medical attention. Some injuries such as a bumped head, bruised knee or sprained ankle can be managed at home with basic first aid. First aid training also teaches you to prioritise injuries, giving the most seriously injured or ill the very best chance. As well as equipping you with the knowledge to establish whether someone needs further care and whether that care should be given by the GP, at a hospital or needs immediate paramedic intervention.

6 – Competent first aid can often reduce the amount of pain experienced by casualties
Knowing how to respond helps you stay calm in an emergency situation. Staying calm allows you to provide emotional support to the patient and help prevent them from panicking – which can often be a very effective form of pain relief. In addition, knowing how to physically move someone in pain, support their injuries and administer appropriate bandaging and dressings can also greatly reduce the amount of pain they experience.

7 – Crucial communication for the emergency services
Staying with the patient until the emergency services arrive to take over means you can convey vital information about how the patient sustained the injury or information about their condition. This information is vital to the emergency services for the effective treatment of the patient and can also aid the patient’s treatment and recovery.

8 – First aid increases awareness and reduces your susceptibility to accidents
Learning first aid and becoming alert to potential hazards and medical issues increases our health awareness and allows us to take better care of ourselves, our friends and families. It creates resilient communities and relieves pressure on healthcare services.

9 – First aid makes you feel empowered
Learning first aid will give you the confidence to act appropriately when an accident occurs. It is vitally important to deal with any life-saving injuries before reaching for the phone to call for an ambulance.
It is also very useful to know when and if to move someone following an accident and when they should be kept still.

10 – Be prepared for anything
None of us know what the future has in store for us or for our loved ones. Sudden illness such as heart attack, stroke, severe bleeding and breathing difficulties require immediate attention, which after a course, you will be well equipped to provide. First aid also equips you to deal with bleeding, burns, breathlessness, bites, shocks stings, splints and fainting so whatever medical situation life throws at you, you can respond effectively.

Adapted from a post written by Emma Hammett First Aid for Life. 11/09/2019

Weaning your baby from breast milk or formula to solid foods can be a daunting process.  Creating a baby weaning plan is the first step and you will want to ensure that you feel confident in keeping your baby safe from harm whilst introducing the infant to solid foods.   In fact 24 babies choke to death each year in England and Wales and it is the third most common cause of death for babies.
 
Whilst you shouldn’t be alarmed, you should equip yourself with as much information as possible in order to reduce the chances of choking.  You should also learn how to help if your baby does choke.  You should make sure you’re aware of the signs of choking, which are different to the signs of gagging.
 
According to a survey by St John Ambulance in the UK, 40% of parents have witnessed their own baby choke, yet over 80% of these parents had no idea what to do in such a situation.  This is an alarming statistic and certainly a good incentive to book yourself on a first aid class!
 
So, here is a comprehensive guide that should keep you and your baby safe:
 
A learning process
Even though eating solids is natural and instinctive behaviour to us, it is – like walking – a process that babies must learn gradually.  It can be helpful to remember that your baby is learning to regulate the amount of food they can chew and swallow at a time.
 
Gagging
Gagging is part of the weaning learning curve for babies.  Don’t be alarmed if your baby is gagging, it is a normal reflex as they learn to eat solids and liquids.  The physical effect of gagging is to:

• Bring the food back into the mouth
• Chew it further
• Consume it once more but in a smaller amount

Although it may seem alarming, gagging is actually a safety mechanism designed to prevent choking.
It happens whether you follow the spoon-fed weaning method or baby-led weaning.
 
The signs of gagging are:

• Watering eyes
• Tongue hanging out of the mouth
• Retching movements or even vomiting

Gagging can be caused by an overload of food, a dislike of the taste of food, or some babies even gag on their own fingers just to see how far they can put things in their mouths.  Babies also gag on liquids as they learn the rhythm of sucking.
Gagging is often a noisy affair.  It can be frustrating to see the food you’ve prepared for your baby be spat and retched out, but remember this is a normal and healthy part of the weaning process.
 
Choking
Choking occurs when food blocks the airway.  Rather than going down the food pipe (oesophagus) – it goes down the breathing tube (trachea) instead.  Usually when we eat or drink and swallow – the epiglottis covers the top of the trachea (wind pipe) and stops food from entering it.  Sometimes, particularly if talking, laughing or crying whilst eating, the flap of the epiglottis is unable to protect the trachea and enables food to enter.
 
The body’s reflex if this happens is to cough, to eject the food.  However, if the airway becomes completely blocked the person is unable to cough and is silent.  This is extremely serious and without help, they could die.
 
To prevent choking:

• Cut food into very small pieces
• Puree or blend foods, especially at the beginning of the weaning process
• Discourage older children from sharing food with babies
• Supervise children and babies when eating together

Meal planner
These tips will help you prepare safe meals for your baby.  There are many online meal planners you can use to help you feed your baby both healthily and safely.

• Cut small round foods (grapes, cherry tomatoes) into small pieces. Sticks or batons rather than circles is a good rule to follow.
• Peel fruit, vegetables and sausages.
• Remove pips or stones from fruit.
• Remove bones from meat or fish.
• Avoid hard foods such as raw carrot, apple, whole nuts and peanuts.
• Ensure your baby is sitting up in their high chair and always supervise their meal times.

 
Choking – the signs
Babies have sensitive gag reflexes and often appear to struggle when trying new food textures and this can be frightening.  The majority of the time they manage to clear the obstruction themselves, repositioning them with their head lower than their body can help.
 
Keep as calm as you can as babies quickly pick up on panic and this can make things worse.  If they are able to cough, encourage them to do so. If they are quiet and struggling to breathe, help immediately.
 
Choking – how to help

• Stay as calm as you can
• If they are able to cough, reposition them to see if they can clear it themselves
• Have a quick look in the baby’s mouth and carefully remove anything obvious. NEVER blindly sweep inside the baby’s mouth with your fingers as it can cause damage and push the obstruction further down
• Lay the baby downwards across your forearm, supporting under their chin
• With your hand hit the baby up to 5 times firmly between their shoulder blades
• Check after each back blow to see if the obstruction has cleared
• If still choking; lay the baby on its back across your knees, head downwards. Place two fingers in the centre of their chest at the nipple line, and give up to five, firm upward chest thrusts
• If the baby is still choking, call 112 and continue giving baby five back blows, alternated with five chest thrusts, until help arrive
• If the baby becomes unconscious start CPR immediately

To see how this works in practice then check out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oswDpwzbAV8

Even better sign up for a First Aid Class where you can actually practice these skills!  

​Adapted from a post by Emma Hammett at https://firstaidforlife.org.uk/ Kate Ellwood (July 2019)
​LifeFirst provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. LifeFirst is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

When someone's drowning, it may not look like the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect from watching TV. When someone’s actually drowning, they won’t able to make any noise, so can easily go unnoticed, even if friends or family are nearby.

Drowning is when someone is unable to breathe because their nose and mouth are submerged in water, or in another liquid.  Babies are particularly vulnerable to drowning incidents, even in wading pools because they sometimes don't have enough strength to pick up their heads.  So, to keep your family safe this summer:

​Drowning prevention – what you need to know

1. Children should be supervised in the water at all times. Don’t rely on older children to supervise
2. It’s not just young children who are at risk. Older children and teens can get into trouble, especially while ‘wild’ swimming. Strong currents, deep water and objects lurking under the water are unlikely to be obvious
3. Don’t assume that because a child can swim, they will be safe
4. Drowning happens silently! As drowning occurs, the instinctive drowning response means that a child is unable to speak or to control their arm movements, and they slip quietly under the water – it’s a myth that they splash about, shout or scream 
5. Don’t rely on lifeguards – provision, training and legislation varies in different countries, and lifeguards may have other duties
6. Even if you’ve taken steps to make your garden or environment safe, children have drowned after wandering into neighbouring gardens. Be mindful of this at home and on holiday
7. Research shows the most common times for children to drown on holiday are the first and the last days – don’t let your guard down at any time
8. Empty paddling pools when they’re not in use 
9. At the beach, wind blowing off the land can make the sea look flat, calm and safe but it can easily sweep inflatables quickly out to sea, and children will be tempted to go after them
10. Finally, expect children to do unexpected things. They can’t be relied on to keep themselves safe, even if they say they can!

​Someone is drowning:
If someone is unconscious in water, get them out as quickly as possible but never put yourself in danger!   The Drowning Chain of Survival is a “call action” and is simple to follow:



​



​

• Once the person is on dry land, turn them on their back, tilt their head and lift the chin to open the airway
• Ask someone to call 112 for medical help
• If the person is unresponsive and not breathing, give them five initial rescue breaths before starting CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• If there is a defibrillator available, use it immediately
• Keep giving CPR until help arrives, the casualty regains responsiveness, or you’re too exhausted to keep going
• If they start to breathe and regain consciousness swiftly put them into the recovery position, treat them for hypothermia by covering them with warm clothes and blankets.  If they recover completely, replace their wet clothes with dry ones
• Keep checking breathing, pulse and level of response until help arrives

IMPORTANT: Anyone who has been in a near-drowning situation should be checked by a doctor as secondary drowning can occur many hours later.

For further advice on drowning and taking your child swimming: 
www.rospa.com/leisure-safety/water/advice/taking-children-swimming/
www.capt.org.uk/drowning

Kate Ellwood  26/06/2019 
​
​Life First provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. Life First is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.

If a lithium coin cell battery gets stuck in a child’s food pipe, it can cause catastrophic internal bleeding and death within hours of being swallowed.

Button batteries, especially big, powerful lithium coin cell batteries, can badly injure or kill a child if they are swallowed and get stuck in the food pipe.  Button batteries are small, round batteries that come in many different sizes and types. Lithium button batteries (often called ‘coin batteries’ or ‘coin cell batteries’) are most dangerous as they are larger and more powerful.

So, it’s important to keep spare and ‘dead’ lithium coin cell batteries and any objects with easily accessible lithium coin cell batteries out of children’s reach, and to act fast if you think your child may have swallowed one.

Children most at risk are between 1 and 4 years, but younger and older children can also be at risk.

Why are button batteries dangerous?
Most button batteries pass through the body without a problem. But if a button battery - particularly a lithium coin cell battery - gets stuck in the food pipe, energy from the battery reacts with saliva to make the body create caustic soda. This is the same chemical used to unblock drains!  This can burn a hole through the food pipe and can lead to catastrophic internal bleeding and death. The reaction can happen in as little as two hours.  Button batteries are also dangerous if they get stuck in a child’s nose or ear.

The size and power of the button battery and the size of the child matter. With a large, powerful lithium coin cell battery – for example a 3V CR2025 or CR2032 – and a small child, the risks are greatest.

Where do children find button batteries?
Typically, children find spare batteries in a drawer, get hold of ‘flat’ batteries that have fallen onto the floor or down the sofa, or take batteries from products like gaming headsets, car key fobs or slim audio visual remote controls.
Spare batteries
Products may come with a spare lithium coin battery in a small plastic bag.  When you buy replacement batteries, some are individually sealed in the pack and can only be removed with scissors.  But, with others, especially cheaper ones you buy online or in discount stores, once you open the pack, all the batteries come out and some may fall on the floor.  Spares often end up being stored in open containers or loose in a drawer.
‘Flat’ or ‘dead’ batteries
It’s not just fully charged lithium coin cell batteries that pose a risk.  Modern devices need a lot of power. When power levels drop, we think the battery is flat and discard it.  But, it can still have enough electrical charge left to badly injure a child.

Batteries in toys, gadgets and novelty items
Button batteries are used in an increasingly wide range of toys, novelty items, gadgets and other everyday objects you’ll find around the house.  Lots of these objects have buttons and surfaces that young children love to explore and play with.  Many are brightly coloured or otherwise appealing to children.  These include:

• robot bug or fish toys
• light-up head bands
• gaming headsets
• slim remote controls
• car key fobs
• key finders
• children’s thermometers
• kitchen or bathroom scales
• musical cards
• novelty items like singing Santas and flashing wands
• fitness trackers
• fidget spinners with LED lights
• 3D glasses
• flameless candles, nightlights and tea lights

Children’s toys
Batteries in children’s toys should either be enclosed by a screw and a secure compartment, or need two independent or simultaneous movements to open the battery compartment.  But, toys bought online or from markets, discount stores or temporary shops may not follow toy safety regulations.  And remember that older children may still be able to open secure battery compartments.

Who is at risk?

• Children are most at risk from 1 to 4 years, but younger and older children can also be at risk.
• Babies and toddlers are at particular risk as they explore the world by putting things in their mouths. Toddlers are naturally inquisitive and can be determined to explore and get into things.
• Older children can be fascinated by them too. In some cases, they may deliberately put one of these batteries in their mouth or on their tongue to experience the sensation of the electrical charge.

How big is the risk?
At least two children a year have died as a result of swallowing lithium coin cell batteries in the UK.
We don’t know how many children are taken to A&E, admitted to hospital or suffer life-changing injuries. 
In Australia, an estimated 4 children a week go to A&E with an injury related to a button battery.

How can I keep children safe?

• Keep all spare batteries in a sealed container in a high cupboard
• Keep products well out of children’s reach if the battery compartment isn’t secured
• Put ‘flat’ or ‘dead’ batteries out of children’s reach straight away and recycle them safely
• Avoid toys from markets, discount stores or temporary shops as they may not conform to safety regulations, and take care when buying online or from overseas
• Teach older children that button batteries are dangerous and not to play with them or give them to younger brothers and sisters

What situations have accidents already happened in?
Little exploring fingers have found lithium coin cell batteries when:

• A product is dropped and the battery falls out
• A battery is ‘flat’ and has been taken out and left on a worktop or table
• A packet of batteries is opened and the batteries spill out under the sofa or a cupboard
• Spare batteries are stored in an easy-to-reach drawer in the lounge or kitchen
• The button battery compartment of a toy or other device isn’t secured

There are NO OBVIOUS SYMPTOMS!
Unfortunately it is not obvious when a button battery is stuck in a child’s food pipe. There are no specific symptoms associated with this. The child may:

• cough, gag or drool a lot
• appear to have a stomach upset or a virus
• be sick
• point to their throat or tummy
• have a pain in their tummy, chest or throat
• be tired or lethargic
• be quieter or more clingy than usual or otherwise ‘not themselves’
• lose their appetite or have a reduced appetite
• not want to eat solid food / be unable to eat solid food

But these sorts of symptoms vary.  Plus, the symptoms may fluctuate, with the pain increasing and then subsiding.
One thing specific to button battery ingestion is vomiting fresh (bright red) blood.  If the child does this then seek immediate medical help. 
The lack of clear symptoms is why it is important to be vigilant with ‘flat’ or spare button batteries in the home and the products that contain them.

IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD HAS SWALLOWED A BUTTON BATTERY, ACT FAST!

• Take them straight to the A&E department at your local hospital or call 112 for an ambulance
• Tell the doctor there that you think your child has swallowed a button battery
• If you have the battery packaging or the product powered by the battery, take it with you. This will help the doctor identify the type of battery and make treatment easier
• Do not let your child eat or drink
• Do not make them sick
• Trust your instincts and act fast – do not wait to see if any symptoms develop

Adapted by Kate Ellwood from: www.capt.org.uk/button-batteries (24/06/2019) 
​Life First provides this information for guidance and it is not in any way a substitute for medical advice. Life First is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made, or actions taken based on this information. It is strongly advised that you attend a First Aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency.