little-known risk to small children

There’s a
little-known risk
to small children
Inside small electronic devices may be very
powerful coin-sized button batteries. When
swallowed, these batteries can get stuck in
the throat and cause severe burns or death.
Take Charge. Act Now.
1
Keep devices with button batteries out of
reach if the battery compartments aren’t
secure, and lock away loose batteries.
2
If a child swallows a button battery,
go to the emergency room right away.
Do not let the child eat or drink and
do not induce vomiting.
3
Share this information with others.
T HESE TY PES O F DEV IC E S MAY C ON TA IN
COI N- SI ZED B UT T ON B AT T E R IE S
To learn more, visit TheBatteryControlled.com
Coin lithium button
batteries can cause severe
injuries when swallowed
Each year, about 3,500 button battery swallowing
cases are reported to U.S. poison control centers.
Serious injuries and deaths are on the rise.
The most serious cases involve nickel-sized 20 mm
diameter batteries. These can get stuck in a child’s
throat and burn through the esophagus in as
little as two hours. Repair can require feeding
and breathing tubes and multiple surgeries.
Kids under 4 are at the greatest risk
Many slim, sleek devices have battery
compartments that are easy to open and
most parents do not know there is a risk.
Symptoms may be similar to other illnesses, such
as coughing, drooling, and discomfort. Children
can usually breathe with the battery in their
throat, making the problem difficult to spot.
Learn more
TheBatteryControlled.com
National Battery Ingestion Hotline: 202-625-3333
The Battery Controlled is a campaign supported by
Energizer, in partnership with Safe Kids Worldwide, to
alert parents and other caregivers to the hidden danger
of swallowing coin lithium button batteries.
Data provided by Dr. Toby Litovitz and the National
Capital Poison Center based on incidents reported to U.S.
poison control centers.
MEDICATION
SAFETY
Store Medicine Safely
Put all medicines up and away and out of sight. Curious kids get into pills
in purses, vitamins on the counter, medicine on nightstands and anything
within their reach.
Put medicine away after every use, even if you need to give another dose
in just a few hours.
Keep visitors’ purses, bags and coats out of the reach of kids, in case they
contain medicine.
Give Medicine Safely
Use the dosing device that comes with the medicine, not a kitchen spoon
or utensil.
Read the label and don’t give your child more than one medicine with the
same active ingredient.
If you are depending on someone else to give your child medicine, write
clear instructions about what to give, when to give it and the correct dose.
Get Rid of Medicine Safely
Put medicine into a sealable plastic bag. If the medicine is a solid, such as
a pill or liquid capsule, add water to dissolve it.
Add kitty litter, sawdust or coffee grounds to the plastic bag. You can add
anything that mixes with the medicine and makes it less appealing for
children and pets to eat.
PUT THE POISON CONTROL CENTER
NUMBER INTO YOUR PHONE:
1-800-222-1222
Supporting Partner
Tip Sheet
TV and Furniture Tip-Overs
The Issue
Every three weeks, a child dies from a TV tipping over and nearly
13,000 more children are injured each year in the U.S. Top-heavy
furniture, TVs and appliances can be unsteady, and if pulled or
climbed on, they can tip over and seriously injure young children.
Over the last ten years, injuries from TV tip-overs have risen by
31 percent. Young children are at greatest risk and seven out of
ten children injured by TV tip-overs are 5 years old or younger.
These tragedies are completely preventable with just a few
simple precautions.
Remember, a
Much like childproofing with a toddler gate or electrical socket
cover, TV mounts and furniture straps are important steps to
keeping your family safe.
placed on or near a
curious, determined
child can topple a
TV. Children playing
with friends or
pets could knock
a TV over, while
other kids might be
tempted to climb
up to reach items
TV, such as remote
controls or candy.
TV Safety Check
¨¨ Assess the stability of the TVs in your home.
¨¨ Secure TVs
¨¨ Mount flat screen TVs to the wall to reduce the risk of TVs toppling off stands.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you protect your wall and
have a secure fit.
¨¨ If you have a large, heavy, old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TV, place it on a
low, stable piece of furniture.
Secure Furniture
¨¨ Use brackets, braces or wall straps to secure unstable or top-heavy furniture to
the wall.
¨¨ Install stops on dresser drawers to prevent them from being pulled all the way out.
Multiple open drawers can cause the weight to shift, making it easier for a dresser
to fall.
Rearrange Household Items
¨¨ Keep heavier items on lower shelves or in lower drawers.
¨¨ Avoid placing remote controls, food, toys or other items in places where kids
might be tempted to climb up or reach for them.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT SAFEKIDS.ORG OR CALL 202.662.0600
© 2012 Safe Kids Worldwide
Supported By
Consejos para
Evitar los vuelcos de televisiones y muebles
El problema
Cada tres semanas, un niño muere a causa de una televisión que se
vuelca, y casi 13.000 niños más sufren heridas cada año en EE.UU.
Los muebles muy pesados, las televisiones y los electrodomésticos
pueden ser inestables y, si se los hala o se trepa sobre ellos, pueden
volcarse y lesionar gravemente a los niños pequeños. Durante los
últimos diez años, las heridas ocasionadas por televisiones que se
vuelcan aumentaron en un 31 por ciento. Los niños pequeños corren
un riesgo más grande, y siete de cada diez niños que se lesionan por
los vuelcos de las televisiones tienen cinco años de edad o menos.
Estas tragedias son totalmente evitables siguiendo unas pocas y
simples precauciones.
Como medidas importantes para mantener segura a su familia y a los
niños, muchos prefieren puertas de seguridad para bebés, tapas para
los tomacorrientes, soportes para televisión y correas para muebles.
Recuerde: un niño
curioso y decidido
puede volcar una
televisión. Los niños
que juegan con sus
amigos o mascotas
pueden volcar una
televisión, mientras
que otros niños
estarían tentados
a treparse para
alcanzar los artículos
colocados sobre o
cerca de la televisión,
como el control
remoto o caramelos.
Revisar la seguridad de la televisión
¨¨ Evalúe la estabilidad de las televisiones en su hogar.
¨¨ Asegure las televisiones
¨¨ Monte en la pared las pantallas planas de televisión para reducir el riesgo
de que se vuelque el pedestal. Siga las instrucciones del fabricante para
garantizar la protección de la pared y obtener un ajuste seguro.
¨¨ Si tiene una antigua televisión grande, pesada y de tubos de rayos catódicos
(CRT), colóquela sobre un mueble bajo y estable.
Asegurar los muebles
¨¨ Utilice soportes, abrazaderas o sujetadores para pared para asegurar los muebles
inestables o muy pesados a la pared.
¨¨ Instale topes en los cajones de la cómoda para impedir que sean halados
totalmente hacia afuera. Varios cajones abiertos pueden ocasionar un cambio del
peso, haciendo más fácil que una cómoda se caiga.
Reubicar los artículos del hogar
¨¨ Mantenga los artículos pesados en las estanterías más bajas o en los cajones
bajos.
¨¨ Evite colocar los controles remotos, alimentos, juguetes u otros artículos en
lugares donde los niños estarían tentados a treparse o tratar de alcanzarlos.
PARA OBTENER MÁS INFOMACIÓN VISITE SAFEKIDS.ORG O LLAME AL 202.662.0600
© 2012 Safe Kids Worldwide
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