The Hidden Danger: Button Batteries Injuries and Toddlers

In today’s homes, amidst all the childproofing efforts, there’s a small yet potentially lethal hazard that often goes unnoticed: button batteries. These tiny, coin-sized power sources can be found in many household items, from remote controls to toys and even greeting cards. While they seem harmless to adults, they pose a significant risk when ingested by curious toddlers and cause button battery personal injuries.

Understanding the Threat

Button batteries are particularly dangerous because they can get lodged in a child’s esophagus and react with saliva, causing a chemical reaction that can burn through tissue in as little as two hours. This makes quick medical intervention crucial. The symptoms of ingestion may not be immediately apparent, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.

How Ingestion Occurs

Toddlers are naturally curious and explore their surroundings by putting objects into their mouths. Small, shiny objects like button batteries are especially attractive to them. Often, parents may not even realize a battery is missing until symptoms appear, by which time damage may have already occurred.

Prevention and Safety Measures

Preventing button battery incidents is crucial for child safety:

• Secure Battery Compartments: Ensure that devices with button batteries have secure compartments that cannot be easily opened by children.  If the button battery devices do not have a safety screw, or safety mechanism from kids that requires two separate actions in opposite directions, throw them away in a closed plastic bag that is taped shut and inaccessible to toddlers.  Or return the product and get a refund if it has not hurt anybody.
• Store Safely: Keep spare batteries out of reach and store them in child-resistant containers.
• Educate Caregivers: Make sure babysitters, grandparents, and other caregivers are aware of the dangers and know what to do in case of ingestion. Tell everybody you know how dangerous button batteries are for toddlers.

Immediate Action Steps

If you suspect your child has swallowed a button battery, act quickly:

1. Call Emergency Services: Contact emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
2. Do Not Delay: Time is critical; do not wait for symptoms to appear before seeking medical help.
3. Do Not Induce Vomiting: This can cause further damage.

Raising Awareness

Raising awareness about the dangers of button batteries is essential within communities and among caregivers. Manufacturers are increasingly taking steps to make products safer, but vigilance and education remain paramount.  While button batteries are ubiquitous in our modern lives, they pose a significant risk to young children if ingested. By understanding the dangers, taking preventive measures, and knowing what to do in an emergency, we can better protect our children from this hidden hazard. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and keep our little ones safe from harm.  Remember, a few moments of precaution can prevent a lifetime of regret.

Expert Representation for Button Battery Ingestion Legal Cases

If you or a loved one has experienced harm from ingestion of a button battery, it is imperative that you contact attorneys familiar with this complex form of product liability litigation. At the Buche Law Firm, PC, we have extensive experience with this nuanced type of litigation, and we have successfully handled cases against some of the largest law firms and largest product suppliers in the nation. Regrettably, some of our clients have passed away so that our cases were wrongful death cases, but in those instances, we have also helped families seek retribution and compensation whenever possible.

In many cases these button batteries are accessed by curious children when they fall out of products that do not comply with the law. Unfortunately, there are a variety of manufacturers and sellers of product with button batteries in them who just don’t care about the dangers they present to small children. We specialize in helping victims and families to bring these cases to court to get relief from the responsible parties.  We will handle your case responsibly and compassionately to get the best results.

We have handled these cases across the country and we use the technical expertise from our science-based IP practice to bolster handling these cases in the most effective manner for our clients. We invest in these cases to bring the best outcome to our clients, hiring the best forensic experts in the country to evaluate the products that are defective, and hiring the best medical providers to help us assess medical planning for injured children.  If you have recently experienced an injury event involving a button battery:

• Make sure to preserve the button battery once it is removed and put it in a sealed protected bag or container.
• If the button battery fell out of a remote-control or other device, then it is imperative to take photos of the device that it fell out of and preserve the device as it was found at the time of the incident. Put it in a sealed plastic bag, photograph the location where it was found first and save all information you have about the product that it fell out of, including shipping information and where it was purchased.
• Call us immediately so we can help you navigate these challenging issues.  512-215-4997.  If you have a case like this, please do not hesitate to call or email John Buche of the Buche Law Firm, PC. jbuche@buchelaw.com
• There will be no charges to you or your family for the representation unless we get a settlement or verdict that delivers justice.
• More information can be found here: https://buchelaw.com/button-battery-ingestion-lawyer/