Government of Canada: Battery Safety
Photo by mali desha
The Government of Canada has recently produced a series of offerings (posters, fact sheets, etc.) on button battery and lithium-ion battery safety with warnings for child safety and the ease with which button batteries can be mistaken for candy.
The page offers a range of useful items to share with parents in your programs, alerting families to the need to protect children by storing batteries safely in the home.
It is easy for children to mistake button batteries for candy and, if swallowed, they can cause serious harm to a child. The situation needs to be treated as an immediate emergency. Button batteries are found in many household items, such as toys, watches, flashlights, hearing aids, and remote controls. Parents are advised to make sure battery compartments on these items are screwed shut, or else to keep these items out of sight and reach of children. Note: Even used batteries can still be dangerous: dispose of them quickly and properly.
Important Warning: If you think your child has swallowed a button battery, immediately go to the nearest emergency department. Giving honey to a child on the way to the hospital can help reduce the risk of serious injury.
Downloadable items include a poster, postcard, fact sheet and brochure.
Recently added are also a downloadable poster and postcard, Lithium-ion Batteries: Don’t go up in smoke!
Lithium-ion batteries are found in many rechargeable household devices, like personal electronics. If mishandled, they can overheat, catch fire and explode. These items outline important safety notes for handling lithium-ion batteries, found in many rechargeable household devices, like personal electronics.
Reduce your fire risk:
Don't modify or tamper with a battery. Don't use if showing signs of damage like swelling or overheating.
Charge away from soft surfaces like bedding. Store at room temperature.
If replacing a charger, check for a Canadian certification mark like CSA, cUL or cETL.
Check with your municipality on how to safely dispose of your batteries.
Health Canada Consumer Product Safety team have produced three booklets (available in limited quantities in Chinese and Punjabi) on child safety:
Is Your Child Safe? This publication covers a wide range of issues relating to products such as blind cords, cribs, car seats, lighters and matches. It provides useful tips and advice for parents and caregivers to help them choose and use consumer products for the children in their care.
Is Your Child Safe? - Sleep Time This guide focuses on safe sleep practices and everything that relates to a safe environment for sleeping.
Is Your Child Safe? - Play Time This guide focuses on everything related to how young children play and discover the world and how to provide them with a safe playing environment.
The Play Time booklet includes the following information on toys with batteries:
Only adults should install batteries. Improper installation or mixing different battery types can cause batteries to leak or overheat, which can result in injury.
Only adults should charge batteries. Battery chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.
Small button batteries, such as those used in talking books, watches and many other common electronic toys, can cause serious internal injuries or death if swallowed. Seek immediate medical attention if a child has swallowed a lithium button battery.
Make sure that young children cannot open a toy's battery compartment.
Do not allow a child to take a battery-operated toy to bed. Burns and other injuries could result from batteries leaking or overheating.
Batteries are poisonous, call a doctor or a poison control centre immediately if a child swallows a battery.
More detailed general information about battery safety can be found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/household-products/battery-safety.html