Extract from ABC News
Parents are being warned about the dangers of button batteries. (Australian Story: Anthony Sines)
Parents are being warned to be wary of battery-operated toys they buy online after a new investigation showed many fail button battery safety standards.
Consumer group Choice has just released the results of a test of five major online stores — Shein, AliExpress, eBay, Amazon and Kogan — with "highly concerning" findings.
Of the the 24 items bought as part of the test, 17 failed to meet mandatory button battery safety standards.
What are button batteries?
Button or coin batteries are small, flat, circular batteries commonly used in toys, remote controls and other small products.
They are generally silver in colour and look like coins.
Because they are so small, they are really easy for little children to swallow – and because they are often quite shiny, they are quite attractive to curious little ones.
Why are button batteries so dangerous?
If swallowed, they can cause severe internal burns and even death.
Even though they stop working in a product, they can retain their electric charge.
"When a button battery gets wet – like from saliva if it's been swallowed – it causes the electrical current in the battery to become corrosive," a Queensland Health factsheet explains.
"This means it can burn a hole through parts of the digestive system, such as the oesophagus, the stomach or the bowel."
A time lapse video shows what happens after a lithium battery is swallowed, explained by paediatric surgeon Dr Kelvin Choo. (Supplied: Kidsafe Queensland)
What is more, sodium hydroxide ions released as part of this reaction can keep burning even after the battery is removed.
Women's and Children's Health Network medical director of surgery Sonja Latzel said swallowed batteries can result in death in a matter of hours if left untreated.
"Button batteries should be treated like poison," Dr Latzel said.
"They should be kept out of the reach of children."
Child safety group KidSafe estimated about 20 children suspected of having swallowed a battery, or inserted one in their nose or ear, present at emergency departments around the country every week.
An average of one child per month has injuries so severe they need surgery.
Three children have died from incidents involving button batteries in Australia, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said in a warning earlier this month.
What did the safety test show?
Choice campaigns director Rosie Thomas said there were "serious safety failures".
"The safety failures across the 17 products included batteries that were able to be accessed without the use of a tool, absence of safety alerts or warning statements, and screws which did not remain with the battery compartment cover when the compartment was opened," Ms Thomas said.
All of the items from Shein, AliExpress and eBay failed the test, as well as some Amazon products.
However, the five products purchased from Kogan passed.
"When we contacted the retailers, AliExpress rejected our findings as unsubstantiated, and Shein didn't respond to our attempts at contact," Ms Thomas said.
"While Amazon and eBay removed the dangerous items shortly after we alerted them, they never should have been allowed to be sold in the first place.
"If CHOICE hadn't tested them, it's likely they would still be available for purchase."
What are the rules about button batteries?
Mandatory national safety standards say anything with a coin or button battery must not release the batteries during use – or misuse – of the product.
Items with replaceable batteries must have secure battery compartments that are resistant to being opened by young children.
And if these compartments a secured by a screw, that screw must remain with the compartment's door or cover so it can not fall out.
On top of this, manufacturers have to do testing to make sure the product complies with those standards before the item goes up for sale.
Laws also require warnings and safety information to be included with products that use button batteries.
"Time and time again we see online marketplaces failing to ensure the products they sell are safe and compliant with the relevant safety standards — this is simply not good enough," Ms Thomas said.
"The marketplaces profit from selling products in Australia but face no clear legal obligation to ensure they are safe.
"We urgently need stronger product safety laws to make it illegal for all companies, including online marketplaces, to sell unsafe products."
Parents warned to secure batteries
Earlier this year, Gintare and Daniel Wilhelm's daughter Adèle was hospitalised after swallowing a battery.
She spent more than a week in the paediatric intensive care unit at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide and endured multiple surgeries.
Her parents warned others to be vigilant about button batteries in their homes.
"If you think you've searched your house and you think it's kid-proof and safe … I would go again," Ms Whilhelm said.
The ACCC strongly encourages consumers to check for button battery products in their homes and "take steps to secure them to keep them safe".
The Whilhelms say they now keep remote controls in ziplock bags.
"Regularly check that products and toys with button batteries are not damaged or broken," the ACCC says.
"The button battery inside can come loose if the product is damaged, or if the button battery compartment does not close securely."
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