It may not be well known, but the swallowing of button batteries can be fatal for children and young people.
Dr Bimal Mehta is a Consultant at Alder Hey’s Emergency Department. Below, he outlines what to do if you have seen your child swallow a battery.
The most important thing to do is to get your child to A&E as soon as possible. In the meantime, feeding your child 2 teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes can help to reduce the damage caused to internal tissue by the battery. Only give your child honey if they are older than 12 months.
Don’t give your child anything else to eat or drink and do not try to make them vomit.
In some cases, you may not have witnessed your child swallow the battery, so it’s important to know the signs to look out for. These include:
- Vomiting blood
- Indicating pain in their throat or chest
- Drooling
- Having difficulty swallowing or eating
You may also find the below video helpful:
If you suspect that your child may have swallowed a battery, but you’re not sure, you can call NHS 111 for advice.