By Kynedei Hobbs, Fox23.com News Staff
OKLAHOMA — The Oklahoma Poison Center is highlighting the dangers associated with button batteries and other hazards that may affect your family this holiday season.
According to the Oklahoma Poison Center, more than 3,400 people—mainly children—swallow button batteries each year, often leading to severe internal burns, permanent injury and death.
“Those disc-shaped batteries are everywhere,” said Kristie Edelen, the Director of the Oklahoma Poison Center. “We see them in greeting cards that sing, remote controls, candles, toys, ornaments, even hearing aids.”
If a child swallows a button battery, it can become lodged in their throat or esophagus. Within one to two hours, the electrical current can begin burning through tissue and cause severe internal injuries.
Parents may not witness their child ingest the battery and early symptoms, such as coughing, vomiting, chest pain or unusual drooling, can be easy to overlook.
Edelen urges families to secure every battery compartment in their home.
“Make sure the screws are tight. If something doesn’t close correctly, put tape over it. Anything that keeps young children from getting to those batteries.”
The Oklahoma Poison Center suggests getting your child evaluated if they display any of these symptoms, even if you haven’t witnessed them swallow a battery.
If your child has ingested a button battery, do not try to make them vomit or give them anything by mouth unless instructed to do so by a medical professional.
Instead, seek emergency care immediately.
The Oklahoma Poison Center also highlighted some other common hazards associated with the holiday season.
Some holiday plants, such as holly, mistletoe, Jerusalem cherry and bittersweet nightshade, can cause vomiting and heart rate changes. In some cases, more serious symptoms related to the plants’ toxicity can occur.
Always keep decorative plants out of reach of children and pets.
Poison experts said they’re also seeing a rise in exposures linked to alcohol left out after holiday gatherings and medical marijuana edibles, especially sweets that look harmless to children.
With relatives visiting for the holidays, purses, suitcases and bags left on the floor can become easy access points.
“Keep those items up and out of reach. Educate guests too. Kids are curious and they’ll get into anything.”
Families should also be careful to minimize the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas, but it can cause headaches, dizziness, vomiting, weakness, confusion and even death.
Always make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors and proper ventilation in any enclosed space when using ovens, fireplaces, furnaces, generators and other things that put off carbon monoxide.
Remember, a quick safety sweep of your home now could prevent a tragedy later.
If you believe you or your child have been exposed to a dangerous substance, you can reach out to the Oklahoma Poison Center 24/7 by calling 1-800-222-1222.
The Oklahoma Poison Center is always staffed by nurses and pharmacists who can guide families in an emergency, even on holidays like Christmas.
Help on the hotline is free and confidential.
