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15 Oct 14
15:06
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Date Joined:
05 Apr 06
Didn't know this.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-29610570
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A leading paediatrician has warned of the dangers of lithium batteries after two children swallowed them and died.
Dr Kate Parkins said, in the last 18 months, another five children in Greater Manchester have also suffered life-changing injuries as a result.
She said the button-shaped batteries "look like sweets" to children but can cause severe internal bleeding which medics struggle to treat.
Lithium batteries are found in items such as toys, keys and smartphones.
'Impossible to control'
Dr Parkins, a lead consultant for the region's Paediatric Intensive Care Transport Service, is calling for a national campaign to highlight the dangers.
Dr Kate Parkins
Dr Kate Parkins said many doctors do not know the harm Lithium batteries can do
"They look innocent enough and therefore nobody thinks to put them out of reach from children," she said.
One child died in May last year after a battery got lodged in the upper part of the feeding tube, she said.
"It had been removed and then, about a week later, caused catastrophic bleeding which we couldn't control."
The most serious cases are associated with Lithium button batteries larger than 20mm (the size of a 10 pence piece) which can cause severe injury within two hours.
And they do not have to be damaged, crushed or chewed to cause serious harm.
Lithium batteries are found in items such as toys, keys and smartphones
"It's not what's inside the battery," she explained. "The battery sets up an electrical current which causes a build-up of sodium hydroxide which is caustic soda.
"That causes a burn through the oesophagus, the feeding tube, and that can then burn through into major blood vessels and that's why the bleeding is then pretty much impossible to control and stop."
The consultant at Central Manchester University Hospital Trust also wants to raise medical awareness "because a lot of doctors are unaware that this can cause harm either".
Severe haemorrhaging
Dr Parkins said in the second fatal case, medics did not know if the three-year-old had swallowed a button battery.
"She suffered catastrophic bleeding which again with all medical intervention we couldn't control.
"She died because of severe haemorrhaging, severe blood loss."
Children who have survived have been left with "severe life-changing injuries", she said.
"Two deaths is too many as far as we're concerned. Two or three patients having severe injuries is too many when it's something potentially preventable."
Central Manchester University Hospitals said the children treated after swallowing the batteries were aged between 12 months to six years old.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-29610570
.
A leading paediatrician has warned of the dangers of lithium batteries after two children swallowed them and died.
Dr Kate Parkins said, in the last 18 months, another five children in Greater Manchester have also suffered life-changing injuries as a result.
She said the button-shaped batteries "look like sweets" to children but can cause severe internal bleeding which medics struggle to treat.
Lithium batteries are found in items such as toys, keys and smartphones.
'Impossible to control'
Dr Parkins, a lead consultant for the region's Paediatric Intensive Care Transport Service, is calling for a national campaign to highlight the dangers.
Dr Kate Parkins
Dr Kate Parkins said many doctors do not know the harm Lithium batteries can do
"They look innocent enough and therefore nobody thinks to put them out of reach from children," she said.
One child died in May last year after a battery got lodged in the upper part of the feeding tube, she said.
"It had been removed and then, about a week later, caused catastrophic bleeding which we couldn't control."
The most serious cases are associated with Lithium button batteries larger than 20mm (the size of a 10 pence piece) which can cause severe injury within two hours.
And they do not have to be damaged, crushed or chewed to cause serious harm.
Lithium batteries are found in items such as toys, keys and smartphones
"It's not what's inside the battery," she explained. "The battery sets up an electrical current which causes a build-up of sodium hydroxide which is caustic soda.
"That causes a burn through the oesophagus, the feeding tube, and that can then burn through into major blood vessels and that's why the bleeding is then pretty much impossible to control and stop."
The consultant at Central Manchester University Hospital Trust also wants to raise medical awareness "because a lot of doctors are unaware that this can cause harm either".
Severe haemorrhaging
Dr Parkins said in the second fatal case, medics did not know if the three-year-old had swallowed a button battery.
"She suffered catastrophic bleeding which again with all medical intervention we couldn't control.
"She died because of severe haemorrhaging, severe blood loss."
Children who have survived have been left with "severe life-changing injuries", she said.
"Two deaths is too many as far as we're concerned. Two or three patients having severe injuries is too many when it's something potentially preventable."
Central Manchester University Hospitals said the children treated after swallowing the batteries were aged between 12 months to six years old.
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Replies: 13
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Wow.
 Very dangerous. If I swallowed one I'd sh1t myself. |
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The other source of 'button batteries' the they mentioned was cards, Like birthday or Christmas cards cards that light up/play tunes etc. These could easily be torn by a youngster.
 Hopefully, any readers of this thread will warn others. |
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Small magnets have been banned in the US because they too are dangerous when swallowed (if a child swallows more than one, they can tear through the intestines to stick together). Sometimes I think the exams for would-be parents are not rigorous enough.
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I can't see the attraction of those magnets
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A leading paediatrician has warned of the dangers of lithium batteries after two children swallowed them and died.
Yeah right. Better make sure your kids only consume nuts and bolts and regular stuff like that then. |
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Hmmm. Is that your assessment of this danger, then?
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Dr C
Another example of your usual moronic statements I see |
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Hmmm.
Is that your idea of a serious question? |
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Facts
Another example of your bile I see. |
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What do expect when you post such inflammatory rubbish ?
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Facts
It's strange that you hadn't got anything to say on the matter before I appeared. And you still haven't. Are you an internet troll? |
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Best to spray something on the batteries to make them taste fowl or real bitter so kids will instantly spit them out if they get in contact with their mouths.
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Might explain why so many children are hyperactive these daze.
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