Energizer has announced a new line of lithium coin batteries it claims are the world’s first to eliminate the risk of burns if swallowed. Its Ultimate Child Shield line has three sizes available starting today – 2032, 2025 and 2016 – which are commonly used in devices like remotes, wearables and trackers like Apple’s AirTag.
Most swallowed batteries pass straight through the body’s digestive system without causing any harm. But if one gets stuck in the esophagus the risk is far greater than the risk of suffocation. When the battery comes in contact with saliva it can generate an electrical current, resulting in chemical reactions that cause alkaline tissue burns, resulting in life-threatening injuries within a matter of hours.
Today’s announcement doesn’t provide specific details about how Energizer’s new Ultimate Child Shield line prevents swallowed batteries from generating current and the dangerous chemical reactions that follow, but it works in conjunction with some of the other safety measures already available on other Energizer batteries. In addition to child-resistant packaging, coin batteries are covered with a bitter substance to prevent swallowing (similar to Nintendo Switch cartridges) and a food-grade dye that turns the mouthpiece blue when in contact with saliva, indicating that the battery has been swallowed.
Although it says the risk of serious or life-threatening ingestion burns has been eliminated, Energizer still recommends seeking immediate medical attention “in all cases of battery ingestion,” even if you only suspect a child or pet (the dye also works with cats and dogs) has swallowed one.
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