Batteries Cause Devastating Injuries

The Full Story

While most button battery ingestions are benign, passing through the gut without a problem, in recent years the number of debilitating or fatal battery ingestions has dramatically increased. Fatalities and cases with severe esophageal or airway burns and subsequent complications have been reported, even in patients who initially have no symptoms after swallowing the battery.These disastrous outcomes occur when batteries get stuck in the esophagus, usually in small children. Large diameter button batteries, especially 20 mm diameter lithium coin cells, are implicated in most of these serious cases, but other battery types and smaller button batteries may also get stuck and cause serious problems. Burns and life-threatening complications can occur if batteries aren’t removed from the esophagus within 2 hours. Batteries beyond the esophagus rarely cause a problem and can usually be left to pass spontaneously if the patient remains asymptomatic. Serious complications have also been seen when small batteries are placed in the nose or ear – another situation where urgent removal is critical.

Tips for Protecting Young Children

• Never leave batteries sitting out. Store spare batteries, and batteries to be recycled, out of sight and reach of young children. If recycling is not possible, wrap used batteries securely and discard them where a child can’t find them.
• Check all household devices to be certain the battery compartment is secured shut. Use strong tape to secure compartments that children can open or that might pop open if the device is dropped. Only purchase products that require a screwdriver or tool to open the battery compartment, or that are closed with a child-resistant locking mechanism. Batteries are everywhere.
• Check:
  • remote controls
  • garage door openers
  • keyless entry fobs
  • bathroom scales
  • parking transponders
  • toys
  • cameras
  • watches
  • PDAs
  • calculators
  • digital thermometers
  • hearing aids
  • singing greeting cards
  • talking books
  • portable stereos
  • handheld video games
  • cell phones
  • home medical equipment/meters
  • flash and pen lights
  • flashing shoes
  • toothbrushes, bedwetting monitors
  • keychains
  • flashing or lighted jewelry or attire
  • any household item that is powered!
• Be especially cautious with any product that contains a battery that is as big as a penny or larger.
  • The 20 mm diameter lithium cell is one of the most serious problems when swallowed.
  • These problem cells can be recognized by their imprint (engraved numbers and letters) and often have one of these 3 codes: CR2032, CR2025, CR2016.
  • If swallowed and not removed promptly, these larger button batteries can cause death – or burn a hole through your child’s esophagus.
• Don’t allow children to play with batteries or with battery powered products that have easily accessible batteries.
• Make sure all hearing aids for children have child-resistant battery compartments and make sure the lock is activated when the child is wearing the aid.
• Alert family members who wear hearing aids to the importance of keeping the batteries out of reach of small children at all times.  That can be quite a burden since most hearing aid users remove the batteries from the aids each time they take the aids off. 
• Don’t insert or change batteries in front of small children. 

Tips for Protecting Older Children and Adults

• Never put batteries in your mouth, to test, to hold, or for any reason. They are slippery and easily swallowed.
• Don’t mistake batteries for pills. Don’t store batteries near pills or in pill bottles. Don’t leave them on bedside tables or place them loose in your pocket or purse. Look at every medicine you intend to swallow.Turn on the lights, put on your glasses, read the label and look at the medicine itself.  
• If you use a hearing aid, these steps are especially important. All too often, the tiny hearing aid batteries are ingested with or instead of medications. 
• Avoid storing or leaving batteries where they might be mistaken for, or swallowed with, food.  
• Don’t leave batteries in drinking glasses or adjacent to nuts, candy, popcorn or other finger foods. 

If a Battery is Swallowed or Placed in the Ear or Nose

• Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666, immediately. Prompt action is critical. Don’t wait for symptoms to develop. If the battery was swallowed, don’t eat or drink until an x-ray shows the battery is beyond the esophagus. Batteries stuck in the esophagus must be removed as quickly as possible as severe damage can occur in just 2 hours. Batteries in the nose or ear also must be removed immediately to avoid permanent damage.

Swallowed a battery?

Get help from the battery ingestion hotline immediately

CALL 800-498-8666

Prevention Tips

• Lacrimators should be used as directed by the manufacturer.
• Keep lacrimators out of the sight and reach of children.
• If a lacrimator unintentionally gets on your hands, avoid touching your face and wash your hands thoroughly.
• If in an area where a lacrimator has been used, leave the area immediately and get to fresh air.
• Avoid direct contact with a pet (or any animal) that has been sprayed.

This Really Happened

Case 1. An 8-year-old boy unintentionally sprayed himself in the face with pepper spray. He was wearing glasses at the time, so a minimal amount got into his eyes. His skin was red and irritated but felt better after washing with soap and water. Although he was not complaining of eye irritation, instructions for irrigating his eyes were provided should it become necessary. During a follow-up call, the boy’s mother said the boy’s eyes were a little pink but not painful, his skin was red but without blisters, and his voice was a little hoarse. These effects were expected to resolve.

Case 2. A woman bought a can of pepper spray and wanted to try it out, so she sprayed it into the sink in her bathroom. She immediately developed throat irritation, coughing, and a burning sensation in her lungs. She was advised to get fresh air, drink water, and take a steamy shower. A follow-up call was placed, and she was feeling better.

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For More Information

Button Battery Statistics

Button Battery Mechanism of Injury

Button Battery Treatment Guideline

Button Battery Severe Cases

Button Battery Fatal Cases

Button Batteries in the News

References

Litovitz TL, Whitaker N, Clark L. Preventing battery ingestions: an analysis of 8648 cases. Pediatrics. 2010;125(6):1178-1183.

Litovitz TL, Whitaker N, Clark L, White NC, Marsolek M. Emerging battery-ingestion hazard: clinical implications. Pediatrics. 2010;125(6):1168-1177.

What to Do If Your Child Eats Toys, Magnets or Batteries – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Infants and young children will eat the strangest things. Serve them a nutritious meal, and they’ll fight you. They’ll be happy to indulge, however, on a shiny coin, small battery or colorful toy.

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“To prevent problems, keep potential ingestion hazards away from young children — up high, out of sight and out of reach,” says pediatrician Jason Sherman, DO. 

Benign items

Benign items will usually work their way out, but call your doctor with any concerns, especially if you notice these symptoms in your child:

• Coughing.
• Gagging.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Drooling.
• Chest pain.
• Stomach pain.
• Vomiting.
• Problems going to the bathroom.

Gum

Gum is a fairly benign item that your child may accidentally or intentionally swallow.

“Let’s dismiss the old wives’ tale,” says Dr. Sherman. “Gum does not stay in a person’s stomach for seven years. Although it’s true that gum cannot be digested, a small wad of gum will usually make its way out of the child’s stomach in a couple of days.”

The biggest danger is if the amount of gum is large enough to cause choking. Otherwise, if your child swallows the gum without other symptoms, you typically don’t need to take the child to a pediatrician or the emergency department.

Modeling clay

Most of the major brands of modeling clay, such as Play Doh, are nontoxic and say so on the container. Unless a child eats a large amount, most modeling clay should not  cause serious problems, other than possibly some mild diarrhea. If your child ingests a significant amount or feels sick, then you should make a trip to the doctor or emergency department.

Small toy pieces

These are a little trickier.

“Most small toys with rounded edges will pass through a child’s digestive system within a few days,” says Dr. Sherman. “A sharp-edged or a larger piece can sometimes cause problems.”

For this reason, if your child swallows a sharp or large piece of a toy, it is best to call your pediatrician and plan on a visit or a trip to the emergency room for evaluation. It is also OK to go to your pediatrician’s office if they have X-ray capability there.

Dangerous items

The following items are hazardous when ingested and need a doctor’s immediate attention:

Lithium and alkaline batteries

Lithium batteries, also known as button batteries, are small and round, and can cause significant problems if ingested. Button batteries are commonly found in toys, hearing aids, key fobs and watches. The batteries are loaded with dangerous chemicals that can be very harmful to a child’s digestive system. Regular, alkaline batteries are also extremely dangerous if swallowed, but that’s less likely because of their larger size.

If your child swallows any type of battery, this is considered an emergency and you should immediately take your child to a hospital emergency department.

Magnets

Magnets can cause a lot of damage in a child’s GI tract and can twist intestines, causing bowel ulcerations, intestinal damage, perforations, blood poisoning and even death.

It can be even more life-threatening if your child swallows more than one magnet. If one magnet is stuck in the colon and the other is in the small intestine, those magnets can attach to each other through bowel walls. This can potentially cut off blood supply or tear a hole in the bowel, allowing waste to leak into the body. The effects can make your child extremely sick and can be fatal. 

To prevent this from happening, get rid of any toys that have magnets in them. If your child swallows a magnet, or if you think your child swallowed a magnet, you should take him to a hospital emergency department immediately. 

Coins

Coins are one of the most common items that children swallow. If your child swallows a coin, take him or her to the pediatrician or to a hospital emergency department. Although most small coins will pass through a child’s GI tract, it is important to know where the coin is in the child’s digestive tract. An X-ray may be necessary to ensure that the coin is passing through the digestive tract normally.

Don’t ignore these symptoms

After swallowing an object, if your child develops coughing, gagging, trouble swallowing, drooling, chest pain, stomach pain, vomiting, or problems going to the bathroom, you should either contact your pediatrician’s office or take your child to a hospital emergency department.

“Remember, prevention of ingestion is key,” says Dr. Sherman. “Encourage children to play with age-appropriate toys. Closely monitor and always observe your child as they grows, develops and explores his world.”

Your child’s pediatrician is a phone call away. If your child swallows something, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. If you are uncertain or concerned about something your child has swallowed, you can also contact the National Capital Poison Center hotline: 1-800-222-1222.

Stop Eating Batteries Already – OZY

Maybe not everybody is eating batteries, but kids certainly are.

One of the strangest characters of the 20th century was France’s Monsieur Mangetout, born Michael Lotito, who would eat anything put in front of him except bananas, which he detested. He ate bicycles, grocery carts, chandeliers, the glass in which his beer was served and even, over the course of two years, an entire Cessna airplane. When the Guinness World Records awarded him a plaque for having the strangest diet, he ate that too.

Not every child will grow up to become a Guinness World Records holder. But children do have one thing in common with Lotito: They’ll eat absolutely anything, even things that are toxic. And that problem is only getting worse. In fact, according to a recent study published in Pediatrics …

Cases of young children eating batteries increased 150-fold from 1995 to 2015.

Batteries aren’t the most commonly eaten item (that’s coins), and they still represent just 6.8 percent of cases in which a kid ingests something they shouldn’t. But batteries were the second most common item eaten by kids who had to be admitted to a hospital (the first was coins again, and yes, it’s worse to eat a quarter than a dime).

So why are so many more kids eating batteries now than in the ’90s? It’s not that kids have gotten more reckless. Instead, you can blame the rise of adorable button batteries, which have been around for decades but are now in a lot of common electronic devices kids might find around the house. Upward of 85 percent of the kids who ate batteries ingested the button variety, which tend to be easy to fit in one’s mouth but can lodge in a kid’s throat and secrete toxic compounds.

It’s not just batteries that are on the rise: Altogether, incidents in which children younger than 6 ate something they shouldn’t have increased by more than 91 percent during the 20-year study. In 2016, more than 67,000 people called poison control to report such an event.

While these figures were collected years before COVID-19, the pandemic has likely made things even worse, says Anthony Green, chief advocacy and network officer for Safe Kids Worldwide. “It’s the nature of the home these days — with the parents at home, the kids at home, parents having to do two jobs and kids being kids,” he says. “Kids are natural detectives. And especially when they’re young, they use their fingers and they use their mouth as detective devices.” Everyone being stuck inside and parents likely distracted by work is a recipe for kids getting into trouble — and now the holiday season, with its battery-filled gifts and even greeting cards, threatens to intensify the situation still further.

Some companies are trying to do something about this: Duracell is now coating its button batteries with a compound that tastes bitter to discourage children from eating them — much as Nintendo has been doing since 2017 with its little Switch cartridges. One wonders though how much effect this will have — it’s not like batteries traditionally taste good, and if the Tide Pod challenge taught us anything, it’s that people will eat stuff that tastes disgusting once they’re committed to the exercise. Another study from 2010 found that not only are battery ingestions increasing, but those incidents are becoming more likely to end in death or a severe medical event, partly because of a trend toward higher-voltage lithium cells.

Of course, any such study is limited. Because the data used here was sourced from emergency departments, it didn’t capture cases where a child swallowed something and went to see their pediatrician, or where they never went to see a doctor at all. Still, this isn’t just a case of modern parents having no chill when it comes to their kids swallowing something. Button batteries can also cause longer-lasting gastric damage if they’re not removed swiftly — within 12 hours, according to researchers.

Parents can try to mitigate the situation, Green says, by making sure any batteries or devices containing batteries are out of the reach of kids. While regulation on things like child-resistant packaging can help, he says, it has to work in concert with individual awareness. Of course, you could always try the experiment he attributes to one children’s hospital, which illustrated the danger of batteries to children by sticking a button battery on a piece of baloney and watching as the meat blackened and disintegrated around it.

a case of multiple AA battery ingestion as a mode of deliberate self-harm

JRSM Short Rep. 2013 Apr; 4(4): 28.

Rohit S Malliwal

¹Department of Clinical Radiology, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK

Satyajit Bhattacharya

²Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery Unit, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK

¹Department of Clinical Radiology, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK

²Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery Unit, Barts Health NHS Trust, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK

The manuscript, including related data, figures and tables has not been previously published and that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-commercial Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/), which permits non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.This article has been cited by other articles in PMC.

We review a case of AA battery ingestion as a mode of deliberate self-harm and examine the current guidelines available.

Introduction

Ingestion of multiple large AA batteries is a highly unusual and rare mode of deliberate self-harm (DSH) with potential for serious complications. We describe a patient who presented with this problem, his subsequent management and a review of the current guidelines and literature available.

Case report

A 54-year-old man was admitted through the emergency department following the ingestion of five AA batteries three days prior to admission. He had a history of personality disorder and had previously swallowed batteries and other foreign bodies on five separate occasions. On one of these occasions he had suffered bowel obstruction as a consequence of battery ingestion, and had required a laparotomy to remove them. On this presentation, he reported swallowing the batteries and had not yet passed any of the batteries per rectum.

He complained of some diffuse abdominal discomfort but did not have any clinical features of bowel obstruction or perforation. He was passing flatus and had no nausea or vomiting. On examination, his abdomen was soft to palpation. He was admitted and kept under observation. An abdominal radiograph taken in the emergency department confirmed the presence of five cylindrical radio-opaque objects in his small bowel with no features of obstruction or suggestion of damage to their structural integrity (Figures  and ).

Plain abdominal radiograph demonstrating three AA cells in the small bowel and two AA cells which have transited to the large bowel. All the battery casings appear to be undamaged and intact and there appears to be no signs of bowel dilation or perforation

This plain abdominal radiograph demonstrates transit of the AA cells with two AA cells in the small bowel, one in the ascending colon and one in the rectum. The patient reports having passed one of the cells per rectum

Serial abdominal radiographs were taken to track the batteries’ progression along the gut and by day 5 they appeared to have transited to the large bowel. The patient was reviewed by the psychiatric team and was assessed to be fit for discharge with follow-up from community mental health services once he had passed all batteries per rectum. He was discharged home and reviewed in the surgical outpatient clinic several days later with no long-lasting morbidity associated with the episode.

Discussion

The literature commonly reports children inadvertently swallowing small button (coin) batteries.¹ The deliberate ingestion of multiple large AA batteries by an adult is an unusual presentation of deliberate self-harm due to the size and difficulty of swallowing these batteries. Other reports have shown that this can occur as a result of personality disorder leading to deliberate self-harm, or attention-seeking behaviour, as may be seen in prison inmates.^1–3

The latest guidelines from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy give a concise overview of the management of battery ingestion. Ingestion of cylindrical batteries with any signs of airway compromise, oesophageal obstruction or perforation are an indication for emergency endoscopy, preferably with conscious sedation if appropriate.⁴ Equally, emergency endoscopy is also indicated if there is any suspicion of damage to the battery casing from biting or chewing.^4,5 Guidelines from Betalli et al.⁶ indicate that if there is no compromise to the structural integrity of the battery, then they can be treated as simple foreign bodies. Complications such as liquefaction necrosis of the gastrointestinal tract lumen or transmission of electrical current locally are both rare phenomena in cylindrical batteries and are more common in disc battery ingestion.^4,6 Observation of the stable patient, who should be kept nil by mouth, is advised with serial radiographs taken every three days to monitor progression of the foreign bodies.^4,6 Endoscopic removal should be reserved for foreign bodies remaining in the stomach for longer than 48 hours.⁶ In addition, emetic agents are not indicated but gastrointestinal lavage may have some benefit to aid and expedite passage of the battery. ⁴

Obstruction from the battery is most likely in the oesophagus, stomach or small bowel, particularly at the ileocaecal valve.⁵ If any signs of obstruction, perforation or peritonitis develop distal to the stomach, or if endoscopic removal has failed, the patient should be referred for prompt surgical review; these are indications for urgent laparotomy for surgical removal of the foreign bodies.^5,7

In addition, distal foreign bodies that have any clinical signs of leakage or display no movement within a 48 hour period should also warrant urgent surgical evaluation and may require subsequent laparotomy.^4,7

AA cells typically contain a mixture of toxic heavy metals including mercury, lithium, zinc and nickel that can cause severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract due to their corrosive nature, with mercury oxide batteries most likely to degrade and fragment.⁵ Case reports from psychiatric patients biting or damaging the battery casing prior to ingestion show that this increases the risk of heavy metal toxicity or gastrointestinal ulceration, and usually require laparotomy to remove the foreign body.⁷ If damage is suspected the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) should be consulted using their online facility – TOXBASE (http://www.toxbase.org/) – which will guide management according to battery type as per its chemical constituents.

Nevertheless, in batteries maintaining their integrity, biochemical assays for heavy metals are not required routinely and cases can be managed conservatively if progressing along the gastrointestinal tract.^4,6

Summary

The reporting of battery ingestion is increasing and with it our understanding of its unique effects on the gastrointestinal tract. In patients presenting with battery ingestion a detailed history and prompt imaging are essential to establish the nature, number and location of foreign bodies. From the literature, management is dependent on the status of the patient and any concerns should be discussed urgently with referral to an experienced gastroenterologist or general surgeon depending on the level of the foreign body.

DECLARATIONS

Competing interests

None declared

Ethical approval

Written informed consent for publication of the article has been obtained from the patient.

Contributorship

All authors have made substantial contributions to the following: (1) the conception and design of the study, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data, (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, (3) final approval of the version to be submitted.

References

1. Blaho KE, Merigian KS, Winbery SL, et al.
Foreign-body ingestions in the Emergency Department: case reports and review of treatment. J Emerg Med
1998;16:21–6 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]2. Gitlin DF, Caplan JP, Rogers MP, Avni-Barron O, Braun I, Barsky AJ
Foreign-body ingestion in patients with personality disorders. Psychosomatics
2007;48:162–6 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]3. O’Sullivan ST, Reardon CM, McGreal GT, et al.
Deliberate ingestion of foreign bodies by institutionalised psychiatric hospital patients and prison inmates. Ir J Med Sci
1996;165:294–6 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]4. Ikenberry SO, Jue TL, Anderson MA, et al.
ASGE Standards of Practice Committee. Gastrointest Endosc
2011;73:1085–91 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]5. Litovitz T, Schmitz BF
Ingestion of cylindrical and button batteries: an analysis of 2382 cases. Pediatrics
1992;89:747–57 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]6. Betalli P, Rossi A, Bini M, et al.
Update on management of caustic and foreign body ingestion in children. Diagn Ther Endosc
2009, 969868 doi:10.1155/2009/969868 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]7. Hindley N
The management of cylindrical battery ingestion in psychiatric settings. Psychiatr Bull
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In case of battery ingestion, act fast! : The Hearing Journal

The January Nuts & Bolts discussed the hazards of ingesting a hearing aid battery. Soon thereafter we received a letter (see below) from Toby Litovitz, MD, head of the National Capital Poison Center, advising us to add urgency to the warning that concluded our column: “The best advice is ‘Go to your doctor—immediately! Better yet, go to the ER. ‘”

As the father of Nut & Bolts and usually its author, I’m always looking for experts who can help me write about interesting topics. Last year I met and became friends with Errol Korn, MD, a gastroenterologist. When I heard he had removed a hearing aid battery from a patient’s GI tract, I asked him to write about ingestion of hearing aid batteries for us. He kindly agreed. Dr.Korn once told me, “An ingested battery could burn a hole in you.” I thought he was exaggerating, but now I know he was not!

In the last few days I have learned a lot about battery ingestion. Please note that ingestion of any battery, including a hearing aid battery, is dangerous, and the newest lithium cells are especially harmful.

Dr. Litovitz provided me with plenty of information. She told me of several documented cases in which an ingested battery “burned” a hole first through the esophagus and then the aorta, causing patients to bleed to death. Here are some other important facts from the National Capital Poison Center:

• More than 3000 cases of button battery ingestion are reported to U.S. poison control centers each year.
• About eight cases a year result in serious problems, such as severe damage to the esophagus.
• Children have died after battery ingestion.
• The problem is getting worse.

WHY INGESTION IS SO DANGEROUS

The electrical capabilities of a typical hearing aid battery are not high enough to cause it to get physically hot when the battery shorts out. But the problem when a battery is swallowed is not heat. And, while damage may be caused by alkaline material in the battery leaking out, the primary danger comes from the electrical current causing a “chemical burn” to body tissues when the battery becomes lodged.

The most dangerous situation is when a larger lithium cell battery (20-mm diameter) gets stuck in the esophagus. The battery pressing against the esophageal tissue and the residual current in the battery can generate very destructive reactions in the esophagus. Hydroxide is formed and an alkaline burn develops.

When a young child swallows a battery, parents are often unaware of it. The child may cough, vomit, refuse to eat, or show other symptoms without the problem being discovered. Without a history of ingestion, a physician is likely to diagnose a flu-like or viral illness. The battery lodged in the esophagus may go undetected. This is a dangerous situation.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

If you hear of a patient—or anyone else—swallowing a battery, tell them to call the 24/7 National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 202/625-3333 and follow their advice.

Readers should be aware of the dangers of battery ingestion and how to respond, not simply as professionals, but also as parents, grandparents, and caring members of the community.

THERE’S NO TIME TO WASTE

I read the recent article by Errol Korn in Nuts & Bolts. I was pleased to see you informing your readers of some of the risks associated with hearing aid batteries, but your advice failed to convey a sense of urgency.

“Go to your doctor” implies waiting until you can be scheduled. Although hearing aid batteries aren’t the riskiest of ingested batteries, larger button cells (such as the popular lithium coin cells found in so many electronic devices) can cause life-threatening damage in just 2 hours. Burns to the esophagus may lead to perforations, massive exsanguination, connections (fistulas) into the trachea, and months to years of impaired feeding, requiring many surgeries and procedures.

Please advise your readers that they should call the 24/7 National Battery Ingestion Hotline (202/625-3333) for treatment guidance as soon as they suspect that a button cell has been ingested. An immediate emergency room visit will usually be necessary as an x-ray should be done right away to be sure the battery is not lodged in the esophagus.

Of course, the most successful strategy for managing battery ingestions is to prevent them. Readers who missed Dr. Korn’s article should check out his “common sense suggestions.” They are right on the mark!

Toby Litovitz, MD

Executive & Medical Director

National Capital Poison Center

Washington, DC

Mom issues warning after toddler is hospitalized for swallowing battery

An Indiana mother is speaking out after her toddler accidentally ate a button battery, hoping to warn parents of the potential household risk.

The quarter-sized battery was surgically removed in September after doctors said 1-year-old Mahziere likely swallowed it two weeks prior.

“He [the surgeon] brought me the battery and I broke down,” mom Ta’Sha Garrett told “Good Morning America.” “I knew the severity of swallowing batteries. I didn’t think that would happen to us. I’m really careful when it comes to things like that.”

Garrett said her son was healthy and behaving normally until one day when she noticed his breathing was off.

“That day I had picked his brother up from school and he was really lethargic,” she said. “Everything about him was moving slow. He ended up sleeping on the car ride home.”

When she got home, Garrett said she heard Mahziere whimpering in the other room. When she went to check on him, she saw bubbles coming out of his mouth.

Garrett said at the hospital, staff tried to administer a COVID-19 test, but she insisted they take X-rays instead.

RELATED: 4-year-old accidentally swallows lollipop with plastic stick

Mahziere was transferred to IU Health Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where medical staff weren’t exactly certain of what he had swallowed until surgery.

“Up until then, I was pretty optimistic it wasn’t a battery,” Garrett said. “I don’t have watches around the house.”

Dr. Fred Rescorla removed a 22-milimiter lithium battery from the bottom of Mahziere’s throat near his clavicle. He was then hospitalized for a week and a half.

“His mother, she’s a great mom,” Rescorla told “GMA.” “She knew right away something was wrong…I was a little apprehensive when I went up to see her. When I approached her, she just wept. She never left his bedside.”

Rescorla noted anesthesiologists had issues getting an airway during the bronchoscopy since the battery burned a hole in Mahziere’s esophagus and caused some swelling.

The doctor saw three cases of children ingesting batteries two years ago.

Emily Samuel, program director at the nonprofit child safety organization Safe Kids Wordwide, said on average, more than 6,300 children go to the ER each year after having ingested a battery.

Children under the age of 5 are more likely to be seen in the emergency room for swallowing a button battery, and toddlers ages 1-3 are at the highest risk for swallowing.

“Younger children under the age of 5 are curious and they’re actively learning and developing new skills,” Samuel told “GMA,” adding that children are also exploring their senses, including taste.

SEE ALSO: Mom rushes 7-year-old son to ER after he swallows AirPod

Garrett said the battery that Mahziere swallowed was a battery from a watch. She learned this after Googling the serial numbers on the battery, she added.

She believes her son may have gotten a hold of it at a relative’s house.

Her message to other parents is to be overly attentive to your kids.

“They move really fast. Even if you think you’re watching them, you have to be mindful that kids move quicker than you,” Garrett said. “If a lot of times people are watching your kids or your kids are going places, warn others what your child is capable of and getting into.”

“It was definitely scary,” she added. “I watched him from going to a breathing tube and not being [himself]. It’s a very traumatic experience for the child and the parent.”

RELATED: Child hospitalized after swallowing common toy battery

Here are tips on how to stay safe, according to Safe Kids:

• Keep greeting cards, remotes, cameras, watches, flameless candles and any other items that may contain batteries out of reach.

• Keep loose batteries locked away.

• Place a piece of duct tape to secure battery compartments.

• Search your home and any place your child goes for items that may contain coin-sized lithium batteries.

• Share this life-saving information with caregivers, friends, family and babysitters.

• If you have any doubts, bring your child to the hospital and request an x-ray.

According to Safe Kids, when a a button battery is swallowed, the saliva triggers an electrical current.

Symptoms of battery ingestion could be tricky to recognize but may include coughing, drooling and discomfort.

“If you think a child has swallowed a button battery, go to the emergency room right away,” Samuel said. “No eating, no drinking and don’t induce vomiting.”

Samuel said parents can also call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline (800-498-8666) for additional treatment information.

Swallowed Button Batteries Must be Removed: Study

By Amy Norton

HealthDay Reporter

SATURDAY, May 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Doctors might want to be more aggressive about treating children who swallow a button battery and appear to be out of danger, a preliminary study suggests.

The small, round batteries — found in everything from watches to remote controls to toys — have become an increasingly common cause of young children’s trips to the emergency room.

“Button batteries are everywhere,” said lead researcher Dr. Racha Khalaf. “And they’re small and shiny, and attractive to kids.”

Whenever a child swallows a battery — or might have swallowed one — parents should get to the hospital right away.

The biggest worry is a battery stuck in the esophagus, according to Khalaf, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora.

When that happens, the battery can quickly burn through the tissue there and cause serious, or even fatal, damage. So doctors act right away, threading an endoscope down into the throat to remove the battery.

The situation is different if X-rays show the battery has moved into the stomach. If it’s not causing symptoms, guidelines say doctors can wait to see if the child passes it naturally.

Continued

But in the latest study, Khalaf’s team found that even in symptom-free children, button batteries that make it into the stomach can damage the lining there. That suggests doctors should consider removing them in those cases, too, the researchers said.

The findings are based on records from 68 children treated at four pediatric hospitals between 2014 and 2018. All had an endoscopy procedure to retrieve a button battery from the stomach. Many had no symptoms when they arrived at the hospital.

Overall, Khalaf’s team found, 60 percent of the children showed some erosive damage to the stomach lining.

“We saw one major adverse event,” Khalaf said.

In that case, she explained, the battery created a hole in the child’s stomach because it sat there for so long. (Doctors estimated it had been there for nearly five days.)

But even in less-severe cases of stomach-lining erosion, Khalaf said, the concern is that the damage could progress: Doctors can’t know if or when the battery will pass.

Continued

Button batteries are a concern both because they can cause severe injury — and because of their ubiquity in home products, according to Dr. Danielle Orsagh-Yentis, a pediatric gastroenterology fellow at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

In a study published in the May issue of Pediatrics, Orsagh-Yentis and colleagues found that about 100 U.S. children per day land in the ER after accidentally swallowing a foreign object. The rate is almost double what it was in the mid-1990s.

There was a rise in ingestions of batteries, specifically — and a button battery was to blame almost 9 times out of 10.

The new findings, Orsagh-Yentis said, suggest that button batteries may cause stomach erosion more often than doctors think.

“The findings are interesting, and as clinicians we need to reflect on them,” said Orsagh-Yentis, who was not involved in the new research. “They underscore a need for vigilance in managing these cases.”

However, she said, this type of study — a review of patient records — cannot prove that removing button batteries from the stomach rather than letting nature take its course actually improves kids’ outcomes.

Continued

In addition, any medical procedure has potential risks. Removing a battery via endoscope does carry a small risk of bleeding or perforation, Khalaf noted.

For parents, she said, the most important thing is to prevent these incidents in the first place: Always store battery packs in a safe place where kids can’t reach them. And when replacing a battery, dispose of the old one properly — never leave it lying around.

If your child does swallow a battery — or you think he or she has — get medical care right away, Khalaf stressed.

Khalaf was to present the findings Saturday at the annual Digestive Disease Week meeting, in San Diego. Studies presented at meetings are generally considered preliminary until they are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

90,000 Batteries are a danger to children

Every year, the number of children swallowing batteries is increasing all over the world. First of all, this concerns button-type batteries. The frequency of severe (even fatal) consequences caused by the presence of a battery in the gastrointestinal tract is also growing, which has increased 7.5 times over the past three years. This is primarily due to an increase in the frequency of use of lithium batteries, which cause more severe damage than the previously widespread nickel-cadmium batteries.The most severe injuries are caused by swallowing 20 mm lithium batteries (CR2032, CR2025 and CR2016).

Button batteries are undoubtedly in every home, they are used in such common energy-consuming devices as watches, hearing aids, remote controls, flashlights, sound greeting cards, portable medical devices intended for home use (steam inhalers, blood pressure measuring devices). pressure), toothbrushes, and, of course, children’s toys.

There is no limit to the imagination of manufacturers of goods for children, who, apparently, believe that every item intended for a child must glow or make sounds (and this requires the use of batteries. As a result, many potentially dangerous objects accumulate in homes and children are most likely to come into contact with batteries.According to statistics, the risk of swallowing batteries increases in children from one to four years old, after the age of five, the frequency of such cases decreases markedly. Boys swallow batteries more often. In connection with the progressive decrease in the size of the batteries, cases of inhalation of batteries, getting them into the nose and ear canals, often began to occur.

What happens after swallowing a battery?

After entering the humid environment of the esophagus, a short circuit occurs between the poles of the battery, as a result of which – an electric burn not only of the mucous membrane, but also of deeper layers. Most often, the battery will pass through the esophagus rather quickly. If, due to its large size or the presence of structural features of the esophagus, it lingers there, then after 2-2.5 hours a mucosal burn develops, as a result of electrolyte leakage. The degree of chemical damage to the esophagus does not depend on whether the battery is charged or discharged.

If the battery gets into the acidic environment of the stomach cavity, its depressurization is almost inevitable; as a result of the destruction of the body, its contents come into contact with the mucous membrane, a chemical reaction begins, melting the tissues, up to complete destruction and the formation of deep ulcers as a result of a chemical burn.

In addition, toxic components of the battery electrolyte are absorbed into the general bloodstream.

How do you know if a child has swallowed a battery?

• Vomiting
• Cough
• Decreased appetite
• Drooling
• There may be no symptoms in the first hours.

What if a child swallows a battery?

• If a battery is swallowed, go to an ambulance immediately.Delay is unacceptable, the depressurization of the battery can occur after 2.5 hours.
• Do not water or feed your baby before a doctor has seen him, as this may worsen the severity of the injury.
• If you have a battery pack or the device itself containing batteries, take it with you, this will help the doctor identify the type of battery and its chemical composition, which will determine the tactics of his further actions.

Prevention of swallowing batteries.

• Keep new batteries out of the reach of children. Make sure that the child does not come into contact with batteries from an already opened packaging
• Store used batteries, prepared for disposal, out of the reach of children.
• Make sure that the battery compartment of any household appliance is securely closed and secured and is resistant to possible attempts by a child to open it and / or the product is kept out of the reach of children.
• Toys and other objects in the child’s reach must be equipped with a battery compartment, the lid of which is fixed with metal screws.
• Purchase batteries only from trusted manufacturers, keep an eye on the expiration date of the batteries.

How to get a swallowed battery.

• After radiological confirmation of the presence of the battery in the esophagus or stomach, it is immediately removed using the endoscope.
• If a large diameter battery is swallowed, it may become stuck in the pylorus (the place where the stomach connects to the intestines), or become locked in the intestine, which may require surgery to remove it.

It is the responsibility of the parents to protect the child from the risk of swallowing the battery.
Remember, every contact of the baby with devices containing batteries is potentially dangerous.

The child has swallowed the battery. What to do? Don’t waste a second!

December 31, 2019

Photo caption,

Sophie swallowed a battery when she was two years old. She fully recovered, but her life was in jeopardy

Two-year-old Sophie Skill from Sheffield, UK, spent several days in intensive care after swallowing a shiny coin-sized round battery.

Battery acid burned her esophagus and lung, causing excruciating pain to the girl. Her life was in danger.

According to doctors, Sophie’s case is not something out of the ordinary: in the UK, swallowed batteries kill an average of two children every year.

Button-like batteries that resemble a button (and a lollipop for a child) are widely used in gadgets and toys, which will soon find themselves in large quantities under Christmas trees, wrapped in gift wrapping.

They can be found in gaming headphones, fitness bracelets, toy robots, car keys, and glowing yo-yos. They can also be found in garlands, lanterns, control panels, singing figures, musical cards, and even Christmas sweaters.

The shiny silver button cell is very attractive to your little one. But if a child swallows a battery, the danger is not only that it can choke. The battery can cause severe burns to internal organs.

Claire Skill, Sophie’s mother, hopes that what happened to her daughter will be a lesson for other parents.

Serious injury

Claire is still unclear where Sophie found this ill-fated battery.

“She was breathing normally, but she was screaming very loudly, just sobbing. I’ve never heard anything like it,” says Claire.

She immediately took Sophie to the hospital, and when the doctors found out what was causing her pain, she was immediately sent to the operating room to remove the battery.

Photo author, Getty Images

Photo caption,

A child can mistake a button cell for a lollipop

Although Claire quickly sought help, the girl was seriously injured.

“In two hours, the battery managed to cause serious harm. She was X-rayed, and it turned out that the button element burned her esophagus and lung. I had to connect it to a ventilator,” she said.

After the operation, the girl spent several days in the intensive care unit and a few more weeks in the hospital ward.

Sophie is now six years old and has fully recovered.

Chemical reaction

Saliva and other body fluids cause a chemical reaction when they come into contact with a battery that releases corrosive substances, so it is vital in such cases to get immediate medical attention and get it done as quickly as possible.

Every minute counts here, experts say. Even a discharged battery can seriously harm a child.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accident Expert Ashley Martin gave some tips:

• Make sure toys and other devices that use push-button elements have lockable or screw-down battery trays
• Be careful with items such as musical greetings postcards, electric candles and remote controls, as they can easily open the battery compartments for a small child
• Make sure spare batteries are kept out of the reach of children and used batteries are disposed of immediately

NHS Chief Medical Officer Stephen Powys said, “Very young children can mistake push-button batteries for candy.We want to educate parents about how deadly batteries can be. “

” The easiest way to protect children is to keep batteries out of reach and make sure the batteries used are securely locked or screwed tightly into their compartments, “says

If you suspect a child has swallowed a battery, do not waste time and seek immediate medical attention.

About Original iPhone Batteries

Apple battery.Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive components that must be manufactured and serviced with extreme care.

Battery replacement should only be performed by trained service technicians from Apple using genuine Apple parts and tools. These services are offered by Apple Authorized Service Providers and Independent Repair Providers using genuine Apple parts. Do not try to replace the iPhone battery yourself.Untrained technicians may not follow proper repair and safety procedures, which could result in improper replacement or repair. As a result, the battery can be damaged, which can cause the battery to overheat and cause injury.

Depending on your location, you can have your iPhone battery replaced (with or without warranty) at an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider, or you can send your iPhone to an Apple repair center.ISPs * also offer genuine parts for non-warranty battery replacement by trained technicians.

Call for battery service.

In addition, if the service provider uses non-original batteries, it is likely that:

• The installed battery is poorly designed or manufactured;
• a previously used battery is installed;
• a damaged battery is installed;
• The battery is not compatible with this iPhone.

Any of the above can cause insufficient battery capacity, improper installation, or performance problems. Using non-original batteries may also result in unexpected behavior after installation, device software updates, or while charging. Using non-original batteries can also cause safety problems.

Genuine batteries are designed to work with iOS, including providing battery level and battery status information.Therefore, after repairs using a non-original battery, you will not be able to obtain information about the condition of the battery.

* Independent Repair Providers offer non-warranty repairs for iPhone and Mac. They have access to genuine Apple parts, tools, training programs, service manuals, diagnostics, and resources.

If the camera “does not hold” the battery …

Users of many cameras powered by AA batteries have come across an annoying thing: Low battery during critical shooting.

It is noteworthy that the subsequent replacement of batteries with new ones, charging old batteries, charging new batteries does not lead to anything.

Let’s try to understand the causes of this problem and how to solve it.

So the facts:

The power consumed by the camera is usually about the same for various models. A little more for the old, a little less for the new. The current consumption depends on two things: on the operating mode and on the supply voltage.The higher the supply voltage, the lower the current consumption, and vice versa (the formula Power = Voltage * Current , probably many can remember).

When the camera is powered by four AA batteries, the supply voltage will be maximum 4 * 1.5 = 6V.

When powered by a lithium battery – 4.1V.

When powered by two “fingers” – 3V.

Note that these are maximum numbers, less for rechargeable batteries.For example, for two Ni-MH batteries, the supply voltage is within 2.1-2.4V.

We see that the highest consumed current will be just for cameras powered by two AA cells. It is these cameras that are most susceptible to the defect of “eternally sinking batteries”.

Let’s move on to specific figures: for a typical camera, the current consumption ranges from 0.3A in viewing mode to 1.2A in photo mode, when the flash is recharged.Also, the current consumption jumps at the very beginning of switching on, when the lens moves out.

Important: it is at the moment of switching on that the camera measures the state of charge of the batteries.

Let’s carry out a thought experiment: in series with our batteries, let’s turn on a small resistance, say, 0.5 Ohm.

We have: voltage 2.3V, current consumption 1A. Let’s calculate how much is “lost” on our extra resistance. U = R * I, U _losses = 0.5 * 1 = 0.5 V. This voltage will simply be lost at the resistance, which means that instead of the normal 2.3V, the camera will receive only 1.8V, and this is already on the verge of a complete discharge of the batteries, from the point of view of the camera.

But where does this resistance come from in real life? There are several bottlenecks that prevent the delivery of energy from the battery to the consumer.

First – the internal resistance of the battery itself. The more the battery is discharged, the more it is.For old batteries, its value is greater than for new ones, and for bad ones it is more than for good ones. The radical way to reduce the internal resistance of batteries is to replace them with new ones. Let’s make a remark: not everything is good that is new. Recently, the quality of rechargeable batteries has declined dramatically.

Secondly, there are at least four electrical contacts on the current path. Any contamination on any of them leads to a strong increase in contact resistance. It is easier to deal with this misfortune.

First, check the tightness of the battery compartment cover. 50% of problematic “fast discharge” devices come with broken and loose battery compartment covers.

The second is to ensure that the contacts in the battery compartment are clean. A small file or skin works wonders. The camera has just shown one division of the battery charge, and now three divisions, without recharging the batteries.

Third, if the first two steps did not lead to anything – check the batteries themselves.To do this, you need a digital multimeter (tester) and a powerful resistor (2-5W) with a resistance of 1 Ohm. The technique is simple: we measure the voltage on one battery, remember this value. Without removing the tester from the battery contacts, we touch them with the same terminals of the resistor. The reading will drop, the more the worse the quality of the battery. We also remember the voltage value after connecting the resistor. The difference between the first reading and the second will be proportional to the internal resistance of the battery – the smaller the difference, the steeper the battery.

The absolute figures are approximately as follows: for a freshly charged AA finger, the no-load voltage is 1.35V, the load voltage is 1.22V, i.e. the difference is 130 mV. This is a pretty good indicator. If the voltage drops more than 300 mV, the battery can be considered unusable (for example, it was 1.31V became 1.12V).

After this rejection, never mix good batteries with bad ones. Remember – it is better to have two batteries of different manufacturers and capacities than identical batteries with a variation in voltage drop under load.

Another commonplace reason for the rapid “discharge” of the battery is the wrong choice of the type of batteries in the camera menu. Always select the “Ni-MH” setting over “Alkaline / oxidryde” when working with rechargeable batteries.

For the sake of fairness, we note that there are some models of cameras that incorrectly determine the battery charge, regardless of their quality. Small list below:

– Olympus SP-310, SP-320, SP-350.These cameras are not powered by two rechargeable batteries. Only conventional 1.5V batteries or 3V lithium battery. The problem is solved by changing the hardware of the camera: changing the voltage divider to work with AA batteries.

– Olympus FE-210, Olympus FE-310. There is a congenital defect, the camera simply does not work well with batteries. Even a fully functional device does not operate on Ni-Mh batteries for long.

– Kodak Z812 and others.The reason is the same, the device is simply not designed to operate on AA batteries.

For such “incurable” devices there is a relatively simple solution: transfer them from Ni-Mh to Ni-Zn batteries.

Ni-Zn batteries have an EMF of 1.6V, which means they will work the same or better than alkaline batteries.

Such rechargeable batteries are already on sale, however, Ni-Mh chargers are NOT SUITABLE for them. Ni-Zn batteries require a special charger, otherwise they will not work for a long time.

Another option is to buy one Li-Ion battery of size 14500 and make a “plug” for the second one. The tension, in this case, will rise even more. However, before such a risky step, it is worth conducting a test of how the device operates from a voltage of 4.1V.

So, conclusions:

The problem is not as bad as it seems. It can often be solved even without disassembling the camera, simply by cleaning the contacts and tidying up the battery compartment cover.Our service center performs this type of work free of charge and on site. We can also reject batteries under load, and also – for free.

Good pictures to you and long-term work from one battery charge for the camera!

Change iPhone settings and double the battery life

Until recently, the owners of the iPhone and iPad felt themselves “on horseback” – they had excellent equipment in their hands, which, it seems, had no shortcomings! Today, the happiness of users who actively use iPhones has somewhat darkened.Their iPhone lasts less than a day without recharging!

How Do I Extend iPhone Battery Life?

Few people know that Apple technology can consume energy at different rates. Master the main functions of your device and “tame” the energy!

Secrets to Extend iPhone

Battery Life

1. Control it!

A “small” charge of energy is not a quantity. To prolong battery life, monitor the dynamics of battery consumption.Turn on your iPhone, go to Settings -> General -> Statistics. Next, you should visit the section Using the battery. Activate Charge Percentage. Now you will be guided not by the strip of a typical icon, but by the digital display of the charge. It is much more convenient to start from this data! In the Battery Usage section, you will see data on the percentage of energy consumed by this or that service – refrain from using the most “demanding” services if you see that the battery is almost “zero”.

2. Adjust the screen brightness

Did you suspect that a large, brightly lit screen wastes a lot of battery life? You were right. Set the brightness to 50%. Disable auto brightness. Experience significant savings. By the way, Apple has officially recommended adjusting the screen brightness as the simplest and most effective way to extend battery life.

You can set the brightness in Settings -> Display and brightness. Move the slider to the left to the 50% mark or until your eyes start to get tired.Switch the Auto Brightness status (the mode of automatically adjusting the brightness under different ambient light conditions) in the same settings.

3. Think about the need for wireless communication

No one argues about the importance of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi – services scan the air, checking for connectivity with other devices. But that doesn’t make one habit any less useful. Left home (cafe, restaurant with free access) – turned off Wi-Fi. Got a saving of 30-40% of the battery. To disable wireless connections, go to the quick access menu, selectively deactivate services.

4. Maybe turn off content updates?

Think, is it really important for you to know about the weather and the prices of apple stocks this very second – by default, these, like many other equally “interesting” veils, are updated in the background. If it doesn’t matter, go to Settings -> General, and from there – to Content Update.

5. Nafig Push notifications in emails and apps!

Only 8% of users really need notifications of new messages in applications not currently running.If you belong to the other 92%, be sure to go to Settings -> Mail, Addresses, Calendars -> Download Data and put Push in the off position. In order not to be disturbed by notifications from other services, visit the corresponding item of the “Notifications” settings and select the items that should be disabled.

!!! For more savings, correct the signal format – turn off the sound notification and the display of the icon (the parameters are set by default).

6.This is a controversial advantage – GPS …

Using the GPS module and the ability to determine the location (Geolocation) is quite reasonable, but not when we are talking about the safety of the battery. Know! Geolocation and secondary services (terrain maps, satellite navigation) consume a lot of energy, and if the first position is really useful, then we doubt the advisability of a constantly included map of the area. You can turn off Geolocation and save 25-30% of the device’s charge in Settings -> Privacy.

7. Turn off parallax

Parallax is a cool thing. Cheerful, beautiful and unusual. But is it really necessary when it comes to long-term iPhone operation? You can turn off the service, which decently “consumes” the battery, in Settings -> General -> Universal access. Check the box “on” Reduce motion parameter.

8. Lock your iPhone.

Remember that locking your iPhone (when you are not using it, of course) is guaranteed to prevent the device from responding to accidental touches to the display and significantly (3-5%) reduces battery drain.We recommend blocking the screen for 1-2 minutes. To do this, go to the Settings -> General -> Autoblock menu, setting the desired autoblock period.

9. Switching off the soundtrack of the keyboard

It’s no wonder that when playing taps on the iPhone keyboard, a certain amount of device power is consumed. The same goes for the vibration used by many games and programs. Turning off these privileges will give your battery extra energy! You can turn off unnecessary signals in the Settings -> Sounds menu.

A few obvious but very important tips for using the iPhone

– Use your iPhone regularly. Let the lithium battery of the device be in perfect condition, which is possible only under conditions of constant movement of its electrons.

– Watch the temperature regime. Both overheating and hypothermia adversely affect battery performance.

– Run your iPhone battery once a month. A full charge cycle (100% charge-100% battery discharge) will definitely benefit your iPhone.

If, despite all efforts, the iPhone battery continues to grieve, the Technari service center will be happy to eliminate this sadness by repairing the iPhone and presenting your device with a new iPhone battery.

Battery Usage Analysis

Battery Usage Analysis

Want to know more about your battery usage? You can get detailed information about the charge level of your battery, how long it has been used since the last charge, and recommendations for adjusting settings to extend its life.

To view battery usage and adjustments:

1. Go to Settings> Battery.

2. A list of power consuming items is displayed. Tap any item to view detailed usage information and, if necessary, adjust settings to reduce power consumption.

3. Tap the battery statistics icon to see detailed energy consumption data.For example, the following diagram shows that prolonged periods of intensive use with the screen always on will drain the battery faster than usual.

If the power consumption chart shows abrupt drops in charge, check the following:

• Mobile network signal strength – When the network signal strength decreases, the phone uses up to three times more power than normal to maintain a stable network connection.Colors indicate signal strength:

  Green	Excellent Signal
  Gray	Good Signal
  Gold	Weak or Bad Signal
  Yellow	No Signal	Searching for network
  Black	Cellular not in use

  If the signal strength is insufficient, move to an area with good signal reception or use Wi-Fi to transfer data.

  Tip A weak network signal can also cause static interference when talking on the phone, hearing problems, interrupted calls and connections, as well as data problems, slow performance, and other problems. Even if your area has good network coverage, building walls or underground, poor reception areas and other environmental factors can affect the signal strength. In this case, try going to the window or use Wi-Fi.

• GPS – Blue means GPS has been turned on. If possible, connect your phone to a power outlet while using GPS.
• Wi-Fi – Blue means Wi-Fi has been turned on, but does not necessarily indicate that it is connected to a Wi-Fi network. Use Wi-Fi for data transfer whenever possible.
• Active mode – blue means that the application did not allow the phone to enter sleep mode after a long period of inactivity, usually this happens when it is necessary to complete some task.However, some user-installed applications may consume battery power longer than necessary by preventing the phone from entering sleep mode.
• Screen Activity – Blue means the screen has been turned on. If this results in high power consumption, reduce the time before the screen turns off (the period of inactivity before entering sleep mode) to one minute or less, switch the phone’s brightness to automatic mode, reduce the use of dynamic wallpaper, and press the power key to turn off the screen when you need to use the phone. not needed.Try plugging your phone into a power outlet when there is a high load, for example, when using games or applications that often use background data transfer.
• Charging in progress – green means the phone is charging.

global-ru-ru-ru-ru-ru-3338-44 2014-05-14T15: 37: 34

Attention, dangerous – Childhood Health Center

Dear friends!

Thank you for being at home.This is the only way we can defeat the coronavirus!

It is difficult for an adult to be at home around the clock, and even more so for children. In the conditions that we are forced to comply with, there are risks to the health of our children, not related to the coronavirus pandemic. In particular, these are the so-called “foreign bodies” in medicine, which a child can swallow or inhale into the respiratory tract.

Young children are researchers by nature. Starting at 6 months of age, they actively learn about the world around them.This acquaintance takes place with the help of touch, they take objects in their mouths, tasting them. Because of this, children’s curiosity sometimes leads to sad consequences. Statistics show that 25% of babies from one to six years old swallowed small objects.

Foreign bodies in a child’s body can be conditionally divided into two types:

1. Threatening to the health of the child;
2. Not harmful.

The following items represent the greatest danger :

1. Coin batteries – These are found in many modern toys.All of them contain chemicals that are harmful to the body. Accidentally swallowed lithium batteries react with saliva and gastric juice, resulting in the formation of harmful chemical compounds that are absorbed and cause severe intoxication and severe burns of the intestinal mucosa, up to perforation (a hole in the wall of the stomach or intestines) with subsequent serious complications …
2. Magnets – like batteries, are found in many toys. If the kid swallows one battery, nothing bad will happen.It is necessary to observe the child and wait for the foreign body to come out. A serious danger is posed by a situation when a child has swallowed two or more magnets. The risk of complications in this case is very high, hospital monitoring of the child is necessary. When two or more magnets are swallowed, they are connected to each other, as a result of which the intestinal wall is impaired, which gradually dies and perforation occurs, subsequently leading to peritonitis and sepsis.
3. Needle pins, sewing needles, nails, screws, pushpins, paper clips.
4. Medications.

If a child has swallowed the above items, specialized assistance is needed, which can only be provided in a hospital.

Non-hazardous swallowed items are small fruit pits, small plastic toys, coins, balls, buttons, beads and other very small items. As a rule, such objects leave the child’s body on their own.They can be found in feces.

But quite often there are moments when an object swallowed by a baby cannot pass through the esophagus. In this case, the child will be disturbed by profuse salivation, nausea with urge to vomit. In such a situation, you should immediately contact a medical institution.

If you notice that the child has swallowed an object from the list “non-hazardous” and his condition does not suffer in any way, then you can wait from a day to 4 days and check the child’s stool.When, during this time period, a swallowed foreign body does not come out with feces, you need to visit a doctor to provide the necessary assistance.

Dear friends! Please revise your children’s toys again. Take good care of toys with batteries and magnets. Remove paper clips, pins, nails, coins, etc. from the field of view of young children.

In the next post, we will tell you about the dangerous liquids that children can accidentally drink and the consequences for their health and life.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones!

Hazardous liquids that a child can accidentally drink are as dangerous as swallowed objects. At the end of the last century, the main cause of esophageal burns was vinegar essence. The situation has changed dramatically in recent years. A huge amount of various household chemicals with alkaline components appeared on store shelves. Manufacturers bottle such substances, as a rule, in bright multi-colored bottles, attracting the attention of buyers and, naturally, curious kids.Improper storage (accessible to children) of household chemicals has led to the fact that today the statistics of burns of the esophagus with alkalis has increased 10 times!

These are the most common fluids:

• Vinegar Essence
• Alkalis (household chemicals)
• Manganese-sour potassium (common potassium permanganate among the people)
• High concentration hydrogen peroxide.

All these substances cause severe chemical burns of the digestive tract.With chemical burns of the esophagus, burns of the oral cavity, larynx, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory failure can occur simultaneously. This happens when taking acetic acid and ammonia due to their volatility and when exposed to vapors of concentrated acids and alkalis.

Acids (more often acetic acid) cause coagulation necrosis of tissues with the formation of a dense scab, which prevents the penetration of the substance into the depths of the tissues, reduces its penetration into the blood.

Caustic alkalis (more often ammonia, household chemicals) cause colliquation necrosis , characterized by a deeper and more widespread lesion of the esophageal wall.

Severe damage to the upper digestive tract also occurs when taking a solution of potassium permanganate, perhydrol, acetone. The mechanism of their action on tissue is different from that of acids and alkalis. Thus, potassium permanganate and perhydrol act on tissues as oxidants.

“Keep out of the reach of children!” – this inscription is on all bottles with household chemicals. Unfortunately, many parents forget about this and household chemicals are on low shelves, and often on the floor in the bathroom and toilet. Bright bottles attract the attention of babies! Just a few seconds and the baby from absolutely healthy turns into a disabled person. Chemical burns of the esophagus lead to serious scarring changes in the esophagus when the act of swallowing is impaired. At first, the baby cannot swallow solid, and then liquid food.

Children with a chemical burn of the esophagus with acid undergo treatment for 1 – 2 years. For snap burns, treatment lasts for years, and plastic surgery is often required.

How can you suspect that your child has drunk hazardous liquids, if you have not noticed the fact of taking the liquid?

Immediately after taking such fluids, children feel shortness of breath, they are restless, there may be vomiting or urge to vomit, swelling of the mucous membrane.Increased salivation appears, body temperature may rise.

First Aid:

1. Call an ambulance!
2. If the child has eaten potassium permanganate crystals, then it is necessary to remove their remnants from the mouth as soon as possible with a damp cloth. If the child knows how to rinse his mouth, then it is necessary to do this;
3. Give water to the child to reduce the concentration of the harmful substance in the stomach. Inducing vomiting is not desirable, as vomit with a chemical agent can aggravate the burn of the esophagus.
4. Gastric lavage – it is better to wait for the ambulance to carry out this procedure through a special probe.

Absolutely all children with burns must be taken to the hospital! Where they will be immediately provided with specialized assistance. And the sooner this assistance is provided, the more favorable the outcome will be (everyone remembers the sensational story with B. Alibasov).

Our advice to avoid burns to the esophagus. While in quarantine:

• Remove all household chemicals from low shelves.
• Do not store pipe cleaners and bleach under the bathtub or near the toilet. They cause the 90,104 most severe esophageal burns!
• Do not store bottles with 70% vinegar essence in the refrigerator, on the lower shelves of kitchen furniture!
• When planning to visit, remind the hosts of the first three points and do not forget about them yourself when visiting, especially if your child is less than three years old.