Do you have a scale, calculator, or a remote control lying around? If you're a parent you might want to think twice before leaving your child alone with these household items.
KHQA's Kristen Aguirre has more on how these objects could be hazardous to your child's health.
Parents have a new danger they need to protect their children from, and it involves a pink bunny.
The Energizer Battery Company has partnered up with Safe Kids Worldwide to launch a national campaign informing parents and caregivers on the potential hazards of children digesting button batteries.
Quincy's local Safe Kids Coalition wants its residents to know the seriousness of this problem.
"Obviously this is serious enough that children have died. What happens is, when the child swallows this button type of battery there is an electrical current that is generated. And so they swallow it and it goes down into their esophagus," said Jan Hummel
Once down the esophagus the body has a chemical reaction to the current and can cause tissue burning. What causes the burning is the contents within the battery, typically mercury or lithium. Which can create hazardous conditions for the child.
"Which can lead to ulceration of that part of the body or it can even go all the way through the esophagus or all the way through the wind pipe and can cause very serious damage," said Jan Hummel.
These batteries are found in every day household objects like scales, calculators or remotes. But that's not where the problem lies.
"Because these items are not intended for the use of small children very often their compartments are not child proof," said Jan Hummel
Last year 3,500 cases of children digesting batteries were reported but doctors believe that doesn't have to be the case in 2012.
"Theoretically this is something that should never happen. It is 100 percent preventable and the ultimate outcome may be fatal," said Dr. Dennis Go.
Most cases only are only fatal if the battery is left untreated within the body
Doctors remind parents to never underestimate their child and to think ... "If I can do it, they can do it," said Dr. Dennis Go.
And members from Save Kids have advice too.
"If it is something that is going to be out where a child can easily get to it then you need to think about how can you secure that battery compartment," said Jan Hummel.
Both doctors and members of Safe Kids Coalition say even if you suspect your child could have swallowed a button battery immediately rush them to the emergency room.
Join the conversation on our Facebook page here ... has your child ever swallowed anything they weren't supposed to? We hope to hear your stories!
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