 This is a button battery. These coin size batteries can increasingly be found in products used in and around the home. As button battery use increases, so does battery-related injuries and death. Injuries from button batteries have increased nearly sevenfold in recent years. When children swallow button batteries, the batteries often pass right through the gastrointestinal tract without any problem at all. The catch is if that battery is large enough to be stuck in the esophagus. When they get stuck in the esophagus, they can burn a hole right through the esophagus. The external current is generating these small amounts of the alkali or cause erosion right through that child's esophagus. You can imagine if it goes into a blood vessel, you're going to have massive bleeding. So these are very, very serious cases. It's especially a problem in young children. Children four years of age or younger are the ones at most risk, although older children occasionally swallow batteries and have complications, too. The 20 millimeter lithium cell, almost 13% of the time, gets stuck in the esophagus and causes a serious complication. So that's why we're focusing on the problems associated with this 20 millimeter lithium cell. Look around your home to see if you have any button batteries. They can be found in remote controls, games, toys, electronic thermometers, talking books, bathroom scales, and hearing aids, just to name a few. How accessible are your button batteries in your home? Here are a few safety tips to help keep your kids safe. Keep remotes and other electronics out of your child's reach if the battery compartments do not have a screw to secure them. Tape may be used to help secure the battery compartment. Keep button batteries out of your child's reach. Discard batteries carefully. Do not allow children to play with button batteries. Never put your batteries in your mouth for any reason. They are easily swallowed accidentally. Always check medications before ingesting them. Adults have swallowed batteries mistaken for pills or tablets. If you suspect that your child has swallowed a button battery, then your child needs urgent medical intervention. You need to take your child to an emergency department for an x-ray right away. Don't wait. Go straight to the emergency department. You can call the battery ingestion hotline at 202-625-3333 for guidance, but get yourself on the way to the emergency department as you make that phone call.