The most common consequences of swallowing button batteries were paralysis of the vocal cord and fusing of the trachea and esophagus, researchers found. Photo by Lead holder/Wikimedia Commons
Those button batteries that power your watch, key fob and other devices can be deadly if a child swallows them, and researchers want to make the danger clear.
The tiny but powerful batteries can burn holes in a child’s throat, paralyze vocal cords or fuse their esophagus and trachea together. In severe cases, burning can continue into a major vein or artery, causing a fatal loss of blood.
“If you have young children in the house, make sure that you keep devices with button batteries away from them or at least make sure that you’re monitoring them when they’re using it and check that if their devices have button batteries that are screwed in or locked into place,” said…