BUTTON BATTERY SAFETY PACKS HELP SAVE LIVES
Material sent to schools after tragic death of Harper-lee, 2
INFORMATION packs warning of the dangers of button batteries are being sent to schools in Stoke-ontrent – following the tragic death of Harper-lee Fanthorpe last year.
The educational materials have been produced by the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) as part of the national campaign aimed at raising awareness that button batteries can kill.
Two-year-old Harper-lee, from Abbey Hulton, died last May after she swallowed a 5p-sized battery from a remote control.
Since the tragedy, Harper-lee’s mum Stacy-marie Nicklin has worked with Stoke-on-trent Central MP Jo Gideon and The Sentinel to launch the Harper-lee Foundation, which is fighting for improved safety around button batteries.
The foundation is now working with the Office for Products Safety & Standards on its button battery safety working group alongside the CAPT and other experts.
The CAPT’S materials explain how the batteries can burn through flesh if swallowed, with children aged six months to four-and-a-half years being most at risk. They also include the following battery safety tips:
■ Hunt around your home for button batteries;
■ Keep products well out of your child’s reach if the battery compartment isn’t secured;
■ Store spare and ‘flat’ batteries well out of reach too;
■ Beware of bargains from online marketplaces or local discount shops. They may have button batteries your child can get to easily.
The fact sheet also advises parents to take their child straight to A&E or call 999 if they suspect they have swallowed a battery.
Ms Gideon, chairman of trustees at the Harper-lee Foundation, promoted the campaign at a stall at the Potteries Centre in Hanley on Wednesday, and will be sending teaching packs out to local schools.
She said: “I was delighted to join the Ministerial Working Group. It is made up of very senior representatives from retail, manufacturing, national and international trade bodies, regulators, children’s charities and health professionals. They are all determined to find solutions.”
The CAPT’S free printed resources for schools and other practitioners, funded by the Office for Product
Safety and Standards, include display posters, lesson plans, flyers and fact sheets translated into 17 languages.
Ms Gideon will be promoting the button battery education campaign at the Betty Rushton Community Gardens in Abbey Hulton on Saturday, from 11am to 2pm.
To order free printed copies of the materials, visit: www.capt.org.uk