jay_merrill
Vice Admiral
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2007
- Messages
- 5,653
I saw a tiny article in my local paper, that I think is worth sharing.
It seems that the wafer type batteries that are commonly used in watches, toys, etc., have become a hazard for small children. In most cases, toys that kids play with, have battery compartments that are screwed shut. This is done to prevent the toddlers from getting them open and putting the batteries in their mouths. Some, older toys, however, are not made this way - the battery compartments open easily, so the children can get at the batteries.
Added to this, is that there is a new type of Lithium battery, that is more apt to cause physical damage, because it "lasts" longer. What happens, is that when a toddler swallows one of them, they tend to end up lodged in the esophagus and sometime in the lungs. Because of the fluid in the body, the circuit between the positive and negative sides of the battery, is completed and electrical discharge occurs. That causes internal burns, which then cause serious medical problems.
The article mentioned one little girl who died, after ingesting a battery. She apparently swallowed the thing and began to vomit some time afterwards. She was too young to tell her parents what she had done, but they took her to the hospital, just because of the symptoms being presented to them. At the hospital, she was treated as if she had the flu, apparently because of the vomiting and an elevated temperature. Its wasn't until her lungs were x-rayed for possible pneumonia, that the battery was seen. It was surgically removed, but the damage was too severe by them. She died hour after the operation.
Since just about all of us have kids, grandkids or some connection to young children, I just want to get the word out on this. I was astounded at how small the piece in the paper was - maybe its just me and this is already widely known, but I had never heard of it.
???
It seems that the wafer type batteries that are commonly used in watches, toys, etc., have become a hazard for small children. In most cases, toys that kids play with, have battery compartments that are screwed shut. This is done to prevent the toddlers from getting them open and putting the batteries in their mouths. Some, older toys, however, are not made this way - the battery compartments open easily, so the children can get at the batteries.
Added to this, is that there is a new type of Lithium battery, that is more apt to cause physical damage, because it "lasts" longer. What happens, is that when a toddler swallows one of them, they tend to end up lodged in the esophagus and sometime in the lungs. Because of the fluid in the body, the circuit between the positive and negative sides of the battery, is completed and electrical discharge occurs. That causes internal burns, which then cause serious medical problems.
The article mentioned one little girl who died, after ingesting a battery. She apparently swallowed the thing and began to vomit some time afterwards. She was too young to tell her parents what she had done, but they took her to the hospital, just because of the symptoms being presented to them. At the hospital, she was treated as if she had the flu, apparently because of the vomiting and an elevated temperature. Its wasn't until her lungs were x-rayed for possible pneumonia, that the battery was seen. It was surgically removed, but the damage was too severe by them. She died hour after the operation.
Since just about all of us have kids, grandkids or some connection to young children, I just want to get the word out on this. I was astounded at how small the piece in the paper was - maybe its just me and this is already widely known, but I had never heard of it.
???
