03/09/2026
🚨 Did you know this important button battery guideline was updated here in Australia recently? 👏
If you think your child has swallowed a button battery, even if you’re not sure, ALWAYS treat it as an emergency.
📞 Call 000 or drive to an emergency department immediately whilst following the steps I explain in the video. 🚑
When a button battery is swallowed, contact with saliva creates an electrical circuit that triggers a chemical reaction where the battery is stuck. In as little as two hours, this can cause serious damage to the oesophagus and airway, and can be life-threatening. ⚠️
As a paediatric emergency nurse, we don’t mind you coming in for peace of mind for an x-ray. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. 👩⚕️
👉 Watch this Reel for exactly what to do. Save it. Share it. You never know when you might need it.
〰️ We have been folllwing this guidance in clinical practice and teaching this in our first aid courses since the roll out in June 2026.
Any Qs? LMK.