{"id":83229,"date":"2014-09-30T10:54:33","date_gmt":"2014-09-30T00:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=83229"},"modified":"2020-08-25T13:57:53","modified_gmt":"2020-08-25T03:57:53","slug":"another-warning-about-button-batteries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/09\/30\/another-warning-about-button-batteries\/","title":{"rendered":"Another Warning About Button Batteries"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Button batteries are very dangerous if swallowed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 29, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parents are again being warned of the dangers of button batteries after RACQ CareFlight Rescue airlifted a toddler who reportedly swallowed one yesterday.<\/p>\n

The two-year-old, from Coolum Beach, apparently swallowed a calculator battery.<\/p>\n

He was taken to Nambour General Hospital and then airlifted to the Royal Children\u2019s Hospital to undergo further treatment.<\/p>\n

It is the second time in less than a year CareFlight has airlifted a child suspected to have swallowed a battery and has prompted a warning on the dangers of the tiny toxic objects.<\/p>\n

\u201cButton batteries can lodge in the oesophagus of infants and toddlers and cause serious injury or even death if they go undetected,\u201d CareFlight\u2019s Chief Medical Officer Dr Allan MacKillop said.<\/p>\n

A four-year-old Sunshine Coast girl died in July last year after swallowing one of the small batteries which are used in toys, games and many household items such as torches, car keys, TV remotes, watches and calculators.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they become stuck in the oesophagus they can immediately begin to burn, doing serious damage,\u201d Dr MacKillop said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if you only suspect the child has swallowed the battery, you should immediately take them to your GP or a hospital emergency ward.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly diagnosis is the key.\u201d<\/p>\n

Symptoms include gagging, vomiting or spitting, abdominal pain and persistent drooling.<\/p>\n

Every week four children are taken to emergency departments across Australia after swallowing the tiny batteries.<\/p>\n

RACQ CareFlight said that with Christmas on the horizon, parents are being urged to be cautious, keeping batteries out of reach and ensuring the backs of toys and other household items that use any type of battery are securely taped up from prying little fingers.<\/p>\n

The elderly are also urged not to store the batteries in pill containers as the small objects can easily be mistaken for medication.<\/p>\n

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