What are button batteries?

Button batteries are small batteries that resemble buttons or coins and that look like any one of the batteries in the image below. They are flat in shape, typically up to 32 mm in diameter and between 1 and 11 mm in height. These batteries come in a range of voltage sizes (e.g., 1.2 to 3 volts) and chemical compositions (e.g., lithium, alkaline, silver oxide, zinc air, etc.). Some people know button batteries under different names such as disc battery, coin battery, round battery, flat battery, watch battery, or other name.  

where can button batteries be found?

Button batteries can be found in an ever-growing range of consumer products including, but not limited to:

• key fobs, remote control devices (for TVs, electric fireplaces, heaters, etc.), hearing aids, toys, cochlear implants, toothbrushes, bathroom scales, thermometers, glucometers, home medical devices, key chains, garage door openers, calculators, cameras, watches, and clocks, alarms and timers, jewelry, clothing items with light-up elements, games, pens, flashlights, flameless candles, string lights, musical greeting cards, light up holiday decorations, and many more.

Button batteries can be found everywhere and are also commonly distributed in giveaway, promotional or charity products, and found in children’s party bags.

‍

‍

‍

Children under the age of 6 are at the highest risk for button battery-related injuries.

What are the dangers of button batteries?

Swallowing or inserting a button battery into the mouth or body can lead to serious harm, even death.

Because button batteries are so small, they are most commonly ingested through the mouth and swallowed, but they can also be inserted into the nose, ears, or other parts of the body. People of any age can mistakenly ingest a button battery, but the highest risk is related to children under the age of 6.

Someone who has swallowed a button battery, or inserted one into a part of their body, requires immediate medical attention. A button battery, even a dead one, can cause a severe chemical burn in the esophagus, cause other injuries (e.g., in stomach or bowel), and lead to complications that require critical emergency care, including surgery.

Button batteries 20 mm in diameter or greater and are 1.2 volts or greater carry the highest danger (these include batteries labelled CR2032, CR2025 and CR2016). Unfortunately, these are commonly used types of batteries. Even smaller or weaker button batteries pose significant dangers when swallowed or inserted into a part of the body, and lead to serious complications, lifelong injuries and, in rare cases, death.

‍

How to avoid or prevent a button battery-related injury:

Reduce the number of products in your home that use button batteries. Although injury can still occur with larger (cylindrical-shaped) batteries, it is less common. One way to reduce risk it to look for products that use an alternative source of power, e.g., enclosed batteries (USB rechargeable like a cell phone), larger batteries, or plug-in power.

Secure button batteries and the consumer products that contain them. Only purchase button batteries that come in child-resistant packaging. If you have consumer products that use button batteries, make sure they are durable and have a child-resistant battery compartment—i.e., accessed only with a tool such as a screwdriver. Do not allow children to play with toys or products if the battery compartment can be easily opened.

Know which products in your home have button batteries. Regularly check that the battery is still secured in the child-resistant compartment.

Safely store all button batteries, whether in a package or loose, new or dead, out of reach of young children and locked up. NEVER LEAVE BUTTON BATTERIES LOOSE OR LYING AROUND. When discarding used or dead batteries, put tape (e.g., painter’s tape) all the way around them as soon as they are removed from the product to 1. reduce the risk of fire and, 2. reduce injury risk since tape makes them harder to swallow (due to gagging) and acts as a coating that may reduce the degree of chemical burn. Then, once taped, store them in a container with a securable, or screw-top lid, and keep them in a place that young children cannot access.

Dispose of used button batteries safely and in a timely manner at a proper recycling centre.

Warn others about the dangers of button batteries and the importance of following the above safe practices.

What to do if you suspect that someone has inserted or swallowed a button battery:

You might not see your child swallow or insert a button battery—you might only notice that there is a missing battery from a consumer product or somewhere else.  

A range of signs and symptoms can be associated with ingestion (swallowing) of a button battery. The most commonly reported ones:

• swallowing difficulties (including gagging or choking)
• coughing or noisy breathing
• pain or irritability

However, other symptoms may also include:

• drooling
• chest pain (this may present as grunting)
• unexplained vomiting or food refusal
• bleeding from the gut—black or red vomit or bowel motions
• nose bleeds—sometimes this can be blood vomited through the nose
• grunting
• unexplained fever
• abdominal pain
• general discomfort
• spitting blood or blood-stained saliva
• blue colour on the child’s mouth or hands (some newer batteries are designed to release a blue dye when in contact with bodily fluids to alert caregivers of potential battery ingestion).

Sometimes there are no symptoms at all.

‍

Note: Some newer batteries are designed with a bitter coating so that a child will spit it out; however, research is inconclusive at this time whether or not this works.

‍

For inserted batteries (into the nose, ears, or other body parts), a range of symptoms may include:

• unusual odour, discharge, or bleeding from ear, nose, eye or other part of body
• pain or irritability
• blue colour on the child’s mouth or hands (for some newer batteries only)

Sometimes there are no symptoms at all.

Respond immediately if you suspect someone has swallowed or inserted a button battery. Do not induce vomiting.

 Button battery ingestion or insertion should be treated as quickly as possible. Serious injury can occur in less than two hours.

While on the way to the emergency department or waiting for help to arrive, use honey to reduce the risk of injury. Honey coats the battery and can help reduce the amount of chemical burn.

Give 10 ml (2 teaspoons) of honey:

• If the ingestion happened less than 12 hours ago
• If the individual is at least 12 months old
• If they are not allergic to honey
• If they are able to swallow
• Repeat this dose every 10 minutes for up to six doses. Stop at any point the person is unable to swallow. ‍
• For infants under 12 months old, or if honey is not available or the person is allergic to honey, you can use jam.

Other than honey or jam, do not let the child eat or drink until an X-ray is taken and medical staff have given the okay.

‍

Note: You may not realize right away that a person has ingested or inserted a button battery into a part of their body. This does NOT mean they have not ingested or inserted one.

‍

Button batteries have also known to become lodged in the body or esophagus, with symptoms increasing over several days or even weeks.

The possibility of a serious, life-threatening situation can remain for days, weeks, or even months. This situation is also a medical emergency and you should get the person to the nearest emergency department immediately.

What is being done about this issue?

Raising levels of public awareness is critical to protect people from injuries due to button batteries, but it is not enough. The BC health sector, including the Health Officers Council of British Columbia, has asked Health Canada to regulate consumer products that use button batteries, and button batteries themselves, under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. These regulations could include a requirement for child-resistant packaging and child-resistant consumer product battery compartments to reduce button battery injuries.  

To learn more about the potential impacts of button battery injuries:

• Learn the story of a little girl, Amélie, who swallowed a button battery in Red Deer, Alberta. Watch a short video about her story.
• Health Canada has a webpage and downloadable resources on button batteries.
• Canadian Paediatric Society: Button Batteries: Policy Brief. September 2022 (PDF)‍
• Provincial Protocol Button Battery Ingestion–Pediatrics. July 2022 (PDF)