While Christmas is undoubtedly a time of joy, the festive season also throws up a number of serious issues which must be considered in order to ensure a safe and happy Yuletide.
In addition to acknowledging fire hazards associated with fairy lights and candles, parents have been urged to pay attention to the availability of button batteries around the home during a time when most households experience an influx of new and exciting gadgets and gizmos.
With many of our childrens’s toys and presents requiring lithium button batteries in order to work, it is vital we understand the dangers and potentially tragically implications associated with the misuse of these small round-shaped batteries.
Increasingly concerned by the prevalence of these batteries, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has issued a warning regarding the potential hazards associated with their ingestion.
Echoing a longstanding concern held by most parents Sheila Merrill, public health adviser for RoSPA, said: “Young children are naturally inquisitive, and explore the world in part by putting things in their mouth.”
“As more and more electronic items are introduced into the family home, the potential for children to swallow button batteries increases, and this can lead to choking or poisoning.”
The ingestion of button batteries can cause considerable internal damage as the batteries react with saliva setting up an electrical current resulting in a build-up of caustic soda which will burn through the oesophagus and other major blood vessels.
The RoSPA advise parents to check musical Christmas cards, frameless candles and remote controls in addition to standard electronics in an effort to ensure the safety of their children.
Parents are also encouraged to correctly dispose of old batteries while ensuring new ones are kept in a secure place, safe from curious little people eager to get to grips with the latest gadget.
