Safety advice aims to prevent more heartbreak
North Lanarkshire Council is issuing safety advice to parents on button and coin batteries in gadgets and toys.
This follows the tragic death of 17-month-old Hugh Mcmahon, who accidentally swallowed a button-type battery on Christmas Eve.
The tot was rushed to hospital where medics fought to save his life, but sadly the ingestion had done too much to little Hugh’s body and the toddler passed away in his parents’ arms on Boxing Day.
His family, and others whose child has died or suffered a serious injury, were not aware of the potential risks of the button or coin batteries.
Now NLC’S Trading Standards service is supporting an awareness campaign by the Office for Product Safety and
Standards (OPSS).
Paul Bannister from NLC Trading said: “The tragic death of Hugh Mcmahon from Motherwell highlights the dangers of these small batteries being picked up and swallowed by children.
“Many toys and gadgets contain button or coin cell types of battery, so it is vital that people follow the safety advice to ensure they are used safely, particularly by ensuring the battery compartment is closed securely and the batteries are safely and environmentally disposed of after use, for example at a council household waste recycling centre.”
The OPSS campaign highlights the potential dangers of these batteries and provides advice for parents:
Meanwhile, the council’s Trading Standards service has identified safety concerns about products on sale in the area:
● Flameless tea lights and bathroom scales which did not have a secured battery compartment and the packaging did not have a warning that small cell batteries are a danger if ingested.
● An Orsen LCD writing table doodle board, on sale on Amazon, was supplied with a spare, loose coin cell battery in the packaging.
As a result of the service’s actions, the tea lights and doodle board have been recalled and information has been circulated to all councils to raise awareness and ensure stocks are no longer on sale.
The manufacturer of the scales has been informed and asked to take action to address the issue.
In addition, two retailers have agreed to withdraw and review their in-store battery disposal units after the service identified they could be easily accessible by a child.
Mr Bannister added: “We regularly monitor products on sale in the UK to ensure they meet the stringent safety regulations in place.
“Any problems with products are highlighted to the OPSS which can order unsafe products to be recalled from sale to protect the safety of consumers.”
If anyone has concerns about the safety of a product they have purchased, they can report it to NLC’S Trading Standards Service through Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or at their website.
More information on button batteries is available from the Child Accident Prevention Trust online.