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 under the conditions below.
Honey — only if all of these apply (US National Capital Poison Center): the child is older than 12 months, the battery was swallowed within the last 12 hours, and the child can swallow. Then give 10 ml (2 teaspoons) of honey every 10 minutes, no more than 6 doses, on the way to hospital — never delay the trip for it. Honey may reduce the injury while you travel. Never give honey to a child under 1 year (botulism risk). Time matters enormously — every minute counts.
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