Emergency

Swallowed a battery? What to do right now

  1. Don’t wait for symptoms

    Get medical help straight away. Tell them it was a coin or button battery.

  2. Don’t make them sick

    Don’t make them vomit, and don’t give food or drink unless a doctor or poison centre tells you to.

  3. Bring the battery pack

    Bring the pack or a battery of the same kind, so doctors know its size.

Signs to watch for

Coughing, drooling, chest pain, being sick, not wanting to eat, or a battery that’s missing from a device. But there are often no signs.

Keep it from happening

Keep spare batteries up high and locked away. Check that battery doors on remotes, scales and toys are screwed shut. Tape both sides of used batteries and recycle them quickly.