Thirty-five children worldwide have died from swallowing or inserting button batteries, including three in Australia. Despite mandatory safety standards introduced by the Australian government in 2022, there have been 110 product recalls.
The growing number of injuries and fatalities has led experts to call for urgent redesigns of these batteries. Sophie Stevenson, whose daughter Evy has twice inserted a button battery into her ear, shared her terrifying experience. Evy, who has an intellectual disability, removed the battery from her hearing aid, leading to hospitalisation.
Button batteries are found in many household items, from hearing devices and car key fobs to remote controls. When swallowed or inserted, these batteries can cause severe injuries, such as burns in the oesophagus, windpipe, and even the major artery from the heart. Some children face lifelong complications, requiring multiple surgeries.
The Australian government introduced mandatory safety and information standards for button batteries 2022. Despite this, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has regularly recalled products and taken compliance actions.
Manufacturers need to redesign these batteries to prevent chemical reactions when ingested. KidSafe Queensland’s Dr Ruth Barker criticised the battery companies for not doing enough to ensure safety, even after decades of knowing the risks.
While some measures have been introduced, such as child-proof packaging and bitter coatings, more is needed. Recent standards exempt hearing aids, which still pose a risk, prompting calls for further action to protect vulnerable people like Evy.
From Call for button battery redesign after new study reveals horrific injuries and fatalities by ABC Specialist Reporting Team’s Alison Branley and national consumer affairs reporter Michael Atkin.