What to Do If a Child Swallows a Button Battery

This is a medical emergency — a button battery lodged in the esophagus can burn through tissue in as little as 2 hours, causing life-threatening injury. Go to the emergency room immediately. Do not induce vomiting and do not let the child eat or drink anything except honey. While on the way to the ER, give 2 teaspoons of honey every 10 minutes if the child is over 1 year old — studies show honey coats the battery and significantly slows the chemical burn. Do not give honey to children under 1 year (botulism risk). Time matters enormously — every minute counts.