Next Steps

Prevention

• Batteries should be stored in childproof containers. In the majority of battery ingestions involving children (48.7%), the battery is found loose.

• Battery compartments on toys and gadgets should be properly secured and taped shut. One third of ingestions in children occurred after the child removed batteries from a consumer product.

• Elderly people should never store disk batteries in pillboxes or set them out with medications. Their shape and size make them easily mistaken for medication.

• When changing a battery, never hold batteries in the mouth.