Keep Your Kids Safe From Coin Lithium Batteries!

Disclosure:  I received this product to review in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

As a mom of three, I am constantly worrying.  Will my 1st grader catch up in reading?  Will my kindergartner be good at school today?  Will my 2 year old put something in her mouth that she is not supposed to?  They may seem like small problems and yes kids will be kids, but the last one can be a serious issue.  I am among the 62 % of parents (according to a survey conducted by Energizer) who was unaware of the risk of coin lithium batteries.  I knew of course kids shouldn’t play with them and can choke on them, but I had no clue that in as little as two hours kids can get serious chemical burns if ingested.  I feel like the coin batteries scream “Candy” to kids as they don’t look like regular batteries and kids may not be familiar with them.  Most kids know that AA and AAA batteries go in toys, but coin batteries may be something they haven’t seen before and they are the perfect size to pop into their mouths.

In honor of National Childhood Injury Prevention Week that was earlier this month, the National Safety Council and Energizer has teamed up to share some important tips that every parent could benefit from learning on how to keep kids safe from ingesting Coin Lithium batteries.

The 4 S’s of Coin Lithium Battery Safety:

• STORE devices that use coin lithium batteries out of reach of children
• SECURE the battery compartments of devices
• SELECT battery packaging that meets federal guidelines for child resistance, such as Energizer’s coin lithium battery packaging
• SHARE this information with your friends and family

Energizer actually led the industry by being the first to voluntarily develop packaging for its 20 millimeter coin batteries that meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) strict guidelines for child-resistant packaging.  To create awareness, Energizer has also developed a campaign in partnership wihth the Safe Kids Worldwide called The Battery Controlled.  The campaign will work to alert parents and caregivers to the dangers of swallowing coin lithium batteries.  Energizer is all about identifying ways its products can help keep families safe and make a positive impact on the world.  If it is suspected that a child has swallowed a coin lithium battery, it is important to go the ER immediately, better safe than sorry!

While I open most packages with scissors I never realized how easy some are to open without.  The CPSC has strict guidelines to determine if something effectively counts as child-resistant.  An item is tested with groups of children ages 42-51 months old and also senior adults ages 50-70 who are given 10 minutes to attempt to open the package.  For a pacakge to be child-resistant a total of 80% of the children they tested myst not be able to oepn the package and to make sure that adults can open properly, 90% of the adults tested have up to five minutes, with then another minute to open and close the package (if applicable) so that its child-resistant again.  I received a package of Energizer and a pacakge of a compeitors coin lithium batteries packages to try out.

What were my results?

First off the compeititor package was cardboard and the Energizer had a special material that was pretty tough and durable, I’m not sure how to describe the material any other way.

After bending the package back and forth it easily ripped open and I was able to get the batteries out.  This would be super easy for kids.

The energizer one recommend scissors but I tried again bending and it didn’t budge.  I was able to eventually get it open after chewing on it with my sharp back teeth but I had to do it just right.  With this package you also have to do it individually.  Each battery has a sticker on it reminding parents to keep away from kids.

To keep my kids safe from the temptation of the batteries, I have them stored way up in my laundry room in a container.

Stay Connected with Energizer and Child Safety:

NSC WEBSITE | Energizer WEBSITE | Battery Controlled WEBSITE | Poison Control WEBSITE

BUY IT:  Look for Energizer Coin Lithium batteries as a mass retailer near you (and remember to keep them safely put away when you get home.)

WIN IT:  (1) US winner will receive a Energizer Prize Pack

Includes:

• Two (2) packages of Energizer Coin Lithium batteries
• One (1) Energizer LED Nightlight (winner’s choice between Sleeping Beauty or Cars)
• One (1) Energizer Weatheready 2-in-1 LED Light

 

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