Button and Coin Batteries at Home, Storage and Disposal Steps

A button cell or coin battery that is swallowed can burn through a child's throat or esophagus in as little as two hours, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). That is why the routine for these batteries has three parts: secure the compartments, tape and remove used cells right away, and know who to call.

1. Where these batteries hide

CPSC says button cell and coin batteries power many consumer products, including keyless entry remotes, wireless game controllers, toys and musical greeting cards.

2. How serious the risk is

CPSC reports that from 2011 through 2021 it was aware of 27 deaths and an estimated 54,300 injuries treated in emergency rooms associated with ingested or inserted button cell or coin batteries. The agency says the consequences of a swallowed battery can be immediate, devastating and deadly, and that these batteries are linked to thousands of emergency department visits every year.

3. The routine

1. Check compartments for a screw closure. CPSC advises keeping remotes, electronics and products with accessible button cell or coin batteries away from children if the battery compartment does not have a screw closure to secure it.

2. Check the toys. Toys with these batteries are required to have a secure closure that needs a screwdriver, coin or other tool to open. CPSC says to check the toys in your home to make sure the compartments are secured.

3. Replace or repair damaged compartments. If a compartment that holds these batteries is damaged, CPSC says to replace it as soon as possible, repair it, or dispose of the product, because children have been injured by swallowing loose button and coin cell batteries.

4. Secure used batteries immediately. As soon as a discharged cell comes out of a product, place non-conductive tape, such as electrical tape, over the battery's terminals or around the entire battery. Then discard it at a battery-collection center, per CPSC.

5. Do not let children play with them. CPSC says not to allow children to play with or be in contact with button cell or coin batteries.

6. Keep them out of mouths and away from pills. CPSC says never to put these batteries in the mouth for any reason, because they are easy to swallow accidentally. Adults have also swallowed button batteries mistaken for pills, so CPSC advises visually confirming that you are swallowing medication.

4. What changed in the rules

Reese's Law, enacted August 16, 2022, directed CPSC to set federal requirements for button cell and coin batteries and the products that contain them. In September 2023 CPSC adopted ANSI/UL 4200A-2023 as a mandatory standard for consumer products containing these batteries. It requires either a tool, such as a screwdriver or coin, to open the battery compartment, or at least two independent and simultaneous movements to open it by hand. The standard also sets warning labels for products and packaging.

The law also requires child-resistant packaging for any button cell or coin battery sold after February 12, 2023, but that packaging requirement does not apply to batteries manufactured or imported on or before February 12, 2023.

5. If a battery may have been swallowed

CPSC's guidance for suspected ingestion:

• Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666 or the Poison Help Line at 800-222-1222 immediately for treatment information.
• Take the child to the nearest emergency department right away.
• CPSC cites the National Capital Poison Center's recommendation to give honey to children 12 months and older on the way to the emergency room, to reduce injury before the battery can be removed. The dose is 10 mL every 10 minutes, only for children 12 months or older who ingested a button battery in the past 12 hours, and no more than six doses.
• Do not delay going to the emergency room to get or give honey.

Adults who swallow a button battery should also seek medical attention immediately, per CPSC.

6. Key takeaways

• A swallowed button or coin battery can cause serious burns in as little as two hours.
• Look for screw closures, check toys, and replace or repair damaged compartments.
• Tape the terminals of a used cell the moment it comes out, then take it to a battery-collection center.
• Keep the National Battery Ingestion Hotline (800-498-8666) and Poison Help Line (800-222-1222) handy.
• If ingestion is suspected, take the child to the nearest emergency department right away.