Poisoning & Button Batteries
Version 1.0 · Last reviewed July 2026 · Review cadence: Quarterly (immediate on major guideline changes)
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POISONING — THE NUMBER TO HAVE MEMORIZED
Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222. Free, confidential, 24/7. Call before doing anything else — do not induce vomiting unless poison control directs it. If the child is unconscious, having a seizure, or not breathing, call 911 first.
BUTTON BATTERIES — A CATEGORY OF THEIR OWN
Small lithium coin-cell batteries (in remote controls, key fobs, watches, hearing aids, musical greeting cards, fitness wearables) are the single most dangerous swallowed item in the US for young children. A swallowed lithium coin battery can burn through the esophagus in as little as two hours, causing catastrophic injury or death. If you suspect a button battery has been swallowed, call 911 and the National Battery Ingestion Hotline (1-800-498-8666) immediately. If the child is 12 months or older, can swallow, and the ingestion was within the past 12 hours, Poison Control advises giving 10 mL (2 teaspoons) of honey by mouth every 10 minutes, up to 6 doses, on the way to the emergency department — it slows the burn but does not stop it. Never give honey to a child under 12 months, and never delay transport to find honey. Time is critical.