- Categories:
- Cause
- Tags:
- AppreciationConservationWildlife
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every June 12
- Holiday emoji:
- ⚠️
National Button Battery Awareness Day occurs every June 12 to honor Reese Hamsmith, who tragically passed away after swallowing a button battery. This day serves as a crucial reminder of the silent dangers these common household items pose. Learn safety measures, advocate for child-safe products, and spread awareness to prevent future tragedies.
Want to sponsor National Button Battery Awareness Day? Learn how
History of National Button Battery Awareness Day
This day was created in April 2021 by Trista Hamsmith, whose daughter Reese passed away at the tender age of 18 months. Reese had swallowed a button battery and even though doctors performed surgery to remove it, it only solved a part of the problem. Dr. Thomas McGill, the surgeon at University Medical Center who saved Reese in the beginning by getting the battery out said these batteries are flat and have a positive and negative side. When they go into the esophagus, they begin generating electricity which causes an electrical burn.
Several health agencies provided demonstrations by putting a button battery between ham slices. You can see it begin to burn through the ham in just half an hour. Trista said the battery had damaged her daughter’s throat and so there was air and food going to places where it’s not supposed to. She also said that the hole created was a large one. Surgeons at the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston tried repairing this hole but the damage was already too great. Reese died six weeks after the battery had been removed. Trista called it a living nightmare if it hadn’t been for the support from friends, family, and strangers back home.
But when the unfortunate story went viral, there were some people who blamed the Hamsmiths for being careless. This was when Trista knew she had to speak up to educate families and save other children from the same fate. She said it isn’t a matter of watching your child every second because these things can happen incredibly fast. She created the day so that more parents would be aware of button batteries and the dangers they pose.
National Button Battery Awareness Day FAQs
When is National Button Battery Awareness Day?
In 2026, National Button Battery Awareness Day falls on Friday, June 12. It’s a crucial day to educate yourself and others on preventing accidental ingestions.
How many children are affected by button battery ingestion?
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, over 3,500 children visit emergency rooms annually for button battery-related incidents. These numbers highlight the ongoing risk and the need for vigilance.
What makes button batteries so dangerous?
Button batteries, especially lithium coin cells, pose a severe threat because they can get lodged in the esophagus and create an electrical current. This current rapidly burns tissue, leading to severe internal injuries, perforations, and even death within hours.
What are the signs of button battery ingestion?
Signs of button battery ingestion can be subtle and include coughing, drooling, difficulty swallowing, fever, or abdominal pain. If ingestion is suspected, seek immediate medical attention, even if symptoms are mild.
How to Observe National Button Battery Awareness Day
Inspect your house
Check the various gadgets in your house to ensure all button batteries are tightly sealed inside. Also, check the rest of your home to see whether there are any loose ones lying around, and throw out all the old ones that don’t work anymore.
Teach your kids
Teach everyone in your family, from the eldest to the youngest, to stay away from button batteries. Tell them the damage swallowing them can cause and ask everyone to be careful.
Honor the children
Honor Reese and the many other children who lost their lives from swallowing these batteries. Spread the information among your friends and family and post about it online.
5 Important Facts About Button Batteries
They cause a lot of damage
The battery reacts with bodily fluids, such as mucus or saliva, creating a circuit that can release an alkali that is strong enough to burn through human tissue.
They have caused a lot of deaths
In the U.S., an average of over 3,000 pediatric button battery ingestions are reported annually, and the trend toward major and fatal outcomes is increasing.
Toddlers are at risk
Children five years old and below are most at risk of swallowing button batteries.
They can be tricky to diagnose
Many button battery ingestion cases take a long time to be addressed because they are often misdiagnosed.
They should be taught in medical schools
Many groups are advocating for the inclusion of the procedure to remove button batteries in medical school curriculums.
Why National Button Battery Awareness Day is Important
Button batteries are everywhere
They’re found in cell phones, toys, keyless fobs, musical greeting cards, and flameless candles. In Reese’s case, the Hamsmiths found a remote control with a broken battery compartment later.
It could save lives
Knowing more about this problem can help save countless lives. Such awareness will help parents and children be more mindful of where these button batteries are.
It pushes for change
Advocacy groups are also asking companies and battery makers to change how these cells are made. Some companies have responded by coating button batteries in a bitter flavor to make them unappealing to kids.
