Button Batteries

“It turns out this is one of the most damaging and dangerous things that my beautiful boy could have ever swallowed. It does not get much worse than this.” - Mother of an 8 month-old baby boy

Images and resources

Here we bring together free-to-use images and resources, including copyright-free photos and free downloadable videos, illustrations and educational resources.

Images

Please use this image of lithium coin cell batteries. Most other stock photos are of smaller, less dangerous button batteries. Credit: Child Accident Prevention Trust.

Download and use our other copyright-free button battery photos for your own communications.

(Click on the photo in Flickr and then on the symbol on the right of the photo to download it)

Video content

Access our full playlist of button battery video content on Youtube.

Illustrations

Download and share our illustration of a house and all the button batteries you can find in it, plus cut-outs of the different rooms.

Free educational content

Download and share our poster Button Batteries: Where are yours?
Our downloadable session plan offers an easy way to raise awareness in an engaging way once face-to-face work with parents resumes.

Bulk purchase from our online shop

If you have any budget, you can enhance your work with our Button battery safety pack.

Button battery safety pack (£16.00)
With 100 easy-to-read flyers and a hard-hitting full-colour poster, this pack helps you inform parents about the danger to their child from button batteries.

Useful links

A set of useful links and information is available on our button battery Wakelet collection.

The website of the Office for Product Safety and Standards has advice on how to stay safe plus a downloadable leaflet and poster: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/button-batteries-campaign-how-to-stay-safe
The website of the British and Irish Portable Battery Association (BIPBA) has advice on the risks for parents and medical professionals - http://buttonbatterysafety.com.

Latest

Help families have fun safely this fireworks night

Cancelled fireworks events don’t mean no fun for the family this year. Here’s how families can make memories and keep safe with this fireworks night.
Going it alone this fireworks night?

We could all do with a bit of magic this year. But with organised displays cancelled due to the restrictions, are you feeling under pressure to provide the magic for the kids yourself this fireworks night?
What does the pandemic mean for fireworks night this year?

With organised fireworks displays cancelled due to pandemic restrictions, the risk of serious injuries is greater than ever this year. Here we offer our top tips for buying fireworks safely and organising a safe display at home.
Fireworks

Watching fireworks is great fun and if you do decide to use fireworks at home, here’s how everyone can stay safe.

Are your used batteries really ‘flat’?

We may think ‘flat’ button batteries are harmless. But ‘flat’ lithium coin cell batteries can still hold enough power to cause serious damage if swallowed, even when they are too flat to work.
A treasure hunt for grown-ups #BatteryHunt

Most parents don’t know about the dangers or where batteries are in their homes, so they can’t keep their children safe. That’s why we’re launching a Button Battery Treasure Hunt.
Button batteries

Button batteries, particularly big, powerful lithium coin cell batteries, can badly hurt or kill a small child if they swallow one and it gets stuck in their food pipe. Find out how to keep children safe.
In an emergency

IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD HAS SWALLOWED A BUTTON BATTERY, ACT FAST. Take them straight to the A&E department at your local hospital or dial 999 for an ambulance.
Parents

Our Parents Pack is full of quick wins that can help put you in charge of child safety, even when you’re feeling under pressure. Download your copy here.
Keeping children safe despite pandemic pressures

The pandemic is piling extra pressures on families and risks to children may be heightened at home and on the roads. Here we share our top tips to keep children safe.
Where are they?

Typically, children find spare batteries in a drawer, get hold of ‘flat’ batteries left on a worktop or take batteries from products. Find out where they are in your home.
Top tips

Here we share our top tips for keeping children safe from button batteries.
The risks

Button batteries, particularly big, powerful lithium coin cell batteries, can badly hurt or kill a small child if they swallow one and it gets stuck in their food pipe. Find out more.
‘Flat’ button batteries dangers

Used, 'flat' lithium coin cell batteries can still cause serious damage to a child's food pipe if swallowed. Help us spread the word.

Child Safety Week is here!

Do you work with families? Download our free safety advice to share far and wide. We’ve got fact sheets, articles and activity sheets as well as our hugely popular Parents Pack.
Button batteries

Button batteries, particularly big, powerful lithium coin cell batteries, can badly hurt or kill a small child if they swallow one and it gets stuck in their food pipe. Find out how to keep children safe.
Why are grapes so dangerous?

Doctors have issued a stark warning that young children can choke to death on whole grapes.
Making sense of accidents

Many accidents are a part of growing up. Children need to explore and experiment. But some children suffer the pain of serious accidents that can alter the course of their lives forever. Most of these serious accidents are completely preventable by making simple solutions or changes to routines.
Choking

Each day around 40 under-5s are rushed to hospital after choking on something, or swallowing something dangerous. Be particularly aware of sweet items such as mini eggs around Easter time - these are exactly the same size as a toddler's airway.
In-car safety

In-car safety can be a confusing area for parents and carers. You may find that you're not completely clear about the law, are unsure of the safest way for a child to travel, aren't using the most appropriate restraint or have badly fitting child car seats or booster seats which put a child at risk.
Burns and scalds

95% of all childhood burns and scalds happen at home. Most are caused in the day-to-day situations that many parents don’t anticipate, like children reaching for hot coffee or grabbing hair straighteners.
Parents

Our Parents Pack is full of quick wins that can help put you in charge of child safety, even when you’re feeling under pressure. Download your copy here.
Falls

Falls are the most common cause of accidental injury to children. While most falls aren’t serious – active children often fall over – some falls can lead to death or long-term disability.
Fidget spinners – a hidden hazard in the latest playground craze

Fidget spinners are the latest playground craze but doctors have raised concerns about cheap fidget spinners with LED lights powered by small button batteries.

Free resources and online publications

CAPT offer a number of free downloadable resources covering each of the key safety areas, as well as a well-priced range of picture-based resources and publications is designed specifically for professionals working with families available to buy from the online shop. Read more