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Mom Whose Toddler Accidentally Swallowed A Battery Is Speaking Out In Hopes To Warn Other Parents

Mom Whose Toddler Accidentally Swallowed A Battery Is Speaking Out In Hopes To Warn Other Parents

A mother whose toddler accidentally ingested a button battery is speaking out in hopes to warn other parents of this potential risk that could exist inside the home.

The battery, which was approximately the size of a quarter, was surgically removed late September at IU Health Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis after doctors said that 1-year-old Mahziere likely swallowed it two weeks prior. The Indiana mom, Ta’Sha Garrett told “Good Morning America” of the surgeon who removed the battery:

“He brought me the battery and I broke down.” She continues:

I knew the severity of swallowing batteries. I didn’t think that would happen to us..I’m really careful when it comes to things like that.”

Garrett said Mahziere had still been eating well, sleeping, playing, laughing and otherwise behaving, until one day she noticed his breathing was off. She shared further:

“That day I had picked his brother up from school and he was really lethargic. Everything about him was moving slow. He ended up sleeping on the car ride home.”

Garrett said when they got home, she heard Mahziere whimpering in the other room. She went to check on him and saw bubbles coming out of his mouth. She and Mahziere’s grandmother brought him to the local hospital where they tried to administer a COVID-19 test, though Garrett insisted they take x-rays, she said.

Mahziere was transferred to Riley, where medical staff weren’t exactly certain of what Mahziere had swallowed until surgery was performed.

“Up until then, I was pretty optimistic it wasn’t a battery,” Garrett said. “I don’t have watches around the house.”

Dr. Fred Rescorla is the pediatric surgeon who removed the 22-milliliter lithium battery from the bottom of Mahziere’s throat near his clavicle. Mahziere ended up being hospitalized for a week and a half.

“His mother, she’s a great mom,” Rescorla said. “She knew right away something was wrong…I was a little apprehensive when I went up to see her. When I approached her, she just wept. She never left his bedside.”

Rescorla further disclosed that the actual operation took about 30 minutes, although anesthesiologists had issues getting an airway during the bronchoscopy since the battery burned a hole in Mahziere’s esophagus and caused some swelling.

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“I think he’s doing really well,” Rescorla said. “We really want to make sure he doesn’t get any narrowing or scarring on the esophagus where it was damaged.”

Rescorla said that two years ago, he saw three cases of children ingesting batteries.

Emily Samuel, program director at the nonprofit child safety organization Safe Kids Worldwide, said on average, more than 6,300 children are seen in he emergency room each year after having ingested a battery.

Children under the age of 5 are more likely to be seen in the emergency room for swallowing a button battery, and toddlers ages 1-3 are at the highest risk for swallowing. This data was compiled via the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

BATTERY SAFETY TIPS:

Learn the Facts about Button Batteries

  1. When a child swallows a button battery, the saliva triggers an electrical current. This causes a chemical reaction that can severely burn the esophagus in as little as two hours.
  2. The scary part is that it may not be obvious at first that there is something wrong, since kids can still breathe and act normally after ingesting a battery, though it may seem like your child has a cold or flu.
  3. Repairing the damage from battery ingestion is painful and often involves multiple surgeries. Even after a battery is removed, kids can experience terrible side effects to their vocal chords and windpipe.

Keep Button Batteries Out of Reach

  1. Search your home, and any place your child goes, for gadgets that may contain coin-sized lithium batteries.
  2. Keep coin lithium battery-controlled devices out of sight and reach of children. These include remote controls, singing greeting cards, digital scales, watches, hearing aids, thermometers, children’s toys, calculators, key fobs, flameless or tea light candles, flashing holiday jewelry or decorations all contain button batteries.
  3. Keep loose batteries locked away, or place a piece of duct tape over the controller to secure the battery compartment.

Get Treatment Right Away

  1. If you suspect your child has ingested a battery, go to the hospital immediately. Don’t induce vomiting or have your child eat or drink anything until assessed by a medical professional.
  2. The symptoms may be tricky to recognize (they include coughing, drooling and discomfort), so if you have even the smallest doubt, don’t take any chances. Go to the emergency room right away.
  3. Enter the National Battery Ingestion Hotline (800-498-8666) into your phone right now. Call anytime for additional treatment information.

READ ALSO: Shocking Post Shows The Danger Of Children Swallowing Button Batteries

Tell Your Family and Friends

  1. Share this life-saving information with caregivers, friends, family members and sitters. It only takes a minute and could save a life.

For more Safety Tips please visit Safe Kids Worldwide

“They move really fast. Even if you think you’re watching them, you have to be mindful that kids move quicker than you. If a lot of times people are watching your kids or your kids are going places, warn others what your child is capable of and getting into. Let them know your child is Curious George.”

“It was definitely scary,” she added. “I watched him from going to a breathing tube and not being [himself]. It’s a very traumatic experience for the child and the parent.”

According to Safe Kids, when a a button battery is swallowed, the saliva triggers an electrical current.

“This causes a chemical reaction that can severely burn the esophagus in as little as two hours,” the organization writes on its website.

In addition, symptoms of battery ingestion could be tricky to recognize but may include coughing, drooling and discomfort.

If you think a child has swallowed a button battery, go to the emergency room right away,” Samuel said. “No eating, no drinking and don’t induce vomiting.”

Here are tips on how to stay safe, according to Safe Kids:

-Keep greeting cards, remotes, cameras, watches, flameless candles and any other items that may contain batteries out of reach.

-Keep loose batteries locked away.

-Place a piece of duct tape to secure battery compartments.

-Search your home and any place your child goes for items that may contain coin-sized lithium batteries.

-Share this life-saving information with caregivers, friends, family and babysitters.

-If you have any doubts, bring your child to the hospital and request an x-ray.

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