Parents and carers across Andover are being urged to stay alert to the hidden dangers of button batteries, as new government-backed safety posters are rolled out nationwide.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has launched a public awareness campaign with clear guidance on keeping children safe from button batteries – the small coin-shaped power cells found in toys, gadgets, remote controls, and novelty items.
If swallowed, button batteries can cause serious internal injuries or even prove fatal – and they’re particularly dangerous to younger children who may mistake them for sweets or coins.
The new posters – which are available in English and Welsh – highlight five essential safety tips:
- Look around your home for button batteries in toys, lights, remotes and other gadgets.
- Check for loose backs on products or batteries that may have dropped out.
- Store all batteries securely, out of children’s reach and sight.
- Dispose of used batteries quickly and safely – they remain dangerous even when flat.
- Act fast if you think a child has swallowed a battery – go straight to A&E or call 999.
Used batteries should never be thrown in household waste. Instead, they should be recycled at collection points found in many large supermarkets and shops that sell batteries.
The advice comes as part of updated national guidance developed with input from child safety experts, retailers, battery manufacturers, and consumer protection organisations.
To find out more, or to download the safety posters, visit the Child Accident Prevention Trust or British Standards Institution websites.
Let’s help keep Andover’s children safe.
