We have been inundated with messages regarding a post that has just gone viral – the post was shared by a mum in the U.S. whose child swallowed a button battery. She administered honey to the child and has shared her experience to urge others to do the same if their little one ever ingests a button battery. (Please read the below!)
In Australia, the OFFICIAL ADVICE in the incident of a button battery being ingested;
1. If your child is in respiratory distress – call an ambulance 000 and follow the operator’s instructions
2. If they are breathing fine but you suspect (or know) they have ingested a button battery, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 immediately – they will assess the circumstances of your situation and advise if/how (how much and how often) to give honey and direct you to an emergency department that is best able to help your child.**
NSW Poisons Information Centre advises
If your child is having any difficulty breathing, call 000 immediately.
If your child is not having difficulty breathing, immediately call the Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26.
You will be directed by Poisons staff to an Emergency Department that is best able to treat your child.
Do not try to make your child vomit.
Do not let your child eat or drink while awaiting medical advice.
Why? You will be told by a medical professional at Poisons Info how much and how often to administer honey (If that is what they deem to be the appropriate treatment for your child – honey should not be given to children under the age of 12 months) and what other steps need to be taken to best help your child, including directing you to an emergency department that is best able to help your child.
It is vital that in the event of your child ingesting a button battery, you call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 (available 24/7), as they will assess YOUR specific situation and give the CORRECT treatment for your child.
Again, if your child is in respiratory distress though, you must call an ambulance, immediately.
Please take a look at the button battery fact sheet from NSW Poisons Information Centre for more.
We also have several videos with further advice;
Safe disposal of button batteries
Prevention, recognition and response to button battery incidents
Our button battery experiment – why they are so dangerous
Image credit – ABC News
**Please note, at this time the protocol around giving honey varies between the states and territories, and health services. We hope there is alignment in the near future.
