When a button battery becomes stuck in the esophagus, it can start causing deep internal burns in a short period of time, sometimes before you see obvious symptoms. That’s what makes these ingestions so dangerous.

Why button batteries are uniquely dangerous

Unlike many swallowed objects, a button battery can create an electrical current when it contacts moist tissue. That reaction can generate a highly caustic environment that damages tissue, especially if the battery lodges in the esophagus. Severe complications can include perforations and bleeding involving nearby structures.

Medical guidance emphasizes urgent evaluation and removal when an esophageal battery is suspected often with a goal of removal within hours.

Signs and symptoms can be subtle

Sometimes a child will tell you or you’ll see a choking episode. But many cases are unwitnessed. Symptoms can look like common childhood illnesses, including:

• Coughing, gagging, drooling
• Trouble swallowing, refusing food
• Vomiting
• Chest or throat discomfort
• Wheezing, hoarseness, or noisy breathing
• Fever or “acting off” without a clear reason

If you suspect ingestion, don’t “wait and see.”

What to do immediately if you suspect ingestion

1. Treat it as an emergency. Go to the ER right away.
2. Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline (available 24/7): 800-498-8666.
3. Honey may help in certain cases—only for children 12 months and older and only while you’re heading for medical care (it is not a substitute for emergency treatment).
4. Do not induce vomiting and don’t assume it “will pass.”

Hospitals and emergency medicine groups increasingly discuss honey/sucralfate as a short-term measure to potentially reduce injury within the first hours, but the priority is still rapid imaging and removal when indicated.

Prevention: the steps that reduce risk the most

Practical habits make a big difference:

• Check battery compartments: if it doesn’t require a tool (or two simultaneous actions) to open, treat it as a hazard.
• Tape shut loose compartments on older devices (especially remotes and key fobs).
• Store spare and used batteries up high, in a locked cabinet used batteries can still cause injury.
• Scan your home for “surprise” sources: singing books/cards, flameless candles, thermometers, LED tea lights, watches, bathroom scales.

The law is catching up, but older products are still everywhere

In the U.S., Reese’s Law (signed August 16, 2022) requires federal safety action to reduce ingestion hazards through things like child-resistant battery compartments and clearer warnings.

CPSC guidance also points to standards (like ANSI/UL 4200A) that require more secure compartments and labeling for many consumer products.

Even with improved rules, many households still have older devices that aren’t designed to modern safety expectations, so prevention at home remains critical.

When this becomes a legal issue

If a child is harmed, families often have questions like:

• Was the battery compartment too easy to open?
• Were warnings missing or unclear?
• Did the product fail to meet required safety standards or labeling rules?
• Was there a prior incident history, recall, or safer alternative design available?

These cases can involve product liability, inadequate warnings, or failures in safety design, especially when injuries are severe and life-altering.

We’re here to help

If your child suffered complications after a button battery ingestion, especially if the battery came from a consumer product with an unsecured compartment or inadequate warnings, McEldrew Purtell can help you understand your options and what steps to take next.

Reach out for a confidential consultation to discuss what happened and how we may be able to support your family.