New Safety System Designed for Coin-Sized Lithium Button Batteries

Battery maker Energizer has designed a new safety system for their coin-sized lithium button batteries.

JOPLIN, Mo. — Battery maker Energizer has designed a new safety system for their coin-sized lithium button batteries.

In April, Energizer launched their 3-in-1 Child Shield that features three important child safety features. Most notably, the battery releases a blue dye upon interacting with moisture, such as saliva. For the first time, parents now have a visible way to determine if their children accidentally swallowed a toxic coin battery.

Energizers’ 3-in-1 Child Shield coin batteries also feature more secure packaging and a nontoxic bitter coating to discourage children from putting it in their mouths.

The battery safety system comes in response to increasing reports of small children swallowing the coin-sized batteries, which can cause serious injury or even death.

The last few decades have seen an unprecedented increase in demand for the silver-colored batteries that have become the power source for a growing number of toys and electronics.

Dr. Beth Garrett, a pediatrician with Freeman Health System, says despite the safety measures taken by battery companies like Energizer, young children can often find a way to get into just about anything.

“Once toddlers start moving they develop amazing problem-solving skills. We all have stories from friends and family of kids getting into child-proof bottles and tearing things apart that you never thought that they could get apart. I do not think it’s a good idea to have toys with button batteries or electronics with button batteries — if at all possible, though. In cases where you need these type of batteries, make sure to store them in a lock box where children cannot physically get to them,” said Dr. Garrett.

A recent report published in the journal Pediatrics raised the alarm about a rise in cases of kids swallowing button batteries. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also warns about the dangers of young children swallowing small batteries.

According to the CPSC, a button-cell battery can burn through a child’s throat or esophagus in as little as two hours if swallowed.

“If a child does swallow a battery and they’re over the age of 12 months, you’ll want to start giving them honey every few minutes, and that’s to coat that battery. You’re trying to cover that battery to prevent moisture from getting to it. You don’t want to give them water. A lot of coin batteries are lithium-based. Lithium reacts with water, which is a not good reaction. Water is actually going to make that process a whole lot worse, so avoid water if you think your child has ingested a button battery,” said Dr. Garrett.

According to Energizer, if one of their new Child-Shield cell batteries interacts with saliva, the blue dye will release within seconds and should be clearly visible.

“I think it’s a great technology and I’ve actually started telling my patients about it, but we can’t rely on that because it’s not universal yet. Definitely if you see that blue, start giving them honey and get to the hospital,” says Dr. Garrett.

Whether it’s a coin battery or some other harmful object swallowed by a child, Dr. Garrett says it’s important for parents to have the number for Poison Control nearby.

“Their number is (800) 222-1222 and their website is poison.org,” Dr. Garrett says. “They have a lot of good resources, and if parents are worried about an ingestion of any sort, that number is good to call. On their website, they have a whole page on button batteries. Parents should have the number for Poison Control programmed in their phone and maybe have it on the refrigerator, because so often it’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when.”