Button Batteries Are Sending More Children to the Emergency Room
Button batteries and lithium coin batteries — small, disk-shaped batteries — are the power source for a multitude of everyday objects, including remote controls, hearing aids, key fobs, and many children’s toys. Unfortunately, these tiny devices that add convenience to our lives can pose a serious health risk to or even kill children who swallow them.A new study found that the number of battery-related ER visits for children 18 years old and younger between 2010 and 2019 more than doubled compared with 1990 to 2009, and the majority of injuries occurred in patients 5 years old or younger. The findings were published August 29 in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.“Unfortunately, past prevention efforts have yet to lead to significantly reduced injury rates,” said the study's lead…