Eliza Bashir
24 Oct 2014 · Coroner Simon Nelson · Manchester (North)
A similar concern from this report was raised again 1 time later. See the linked reports.
The coroner's concerns
1. button batteries
“Evidence from the Trading Standards Officer confirmed that because the torch was not classified as a toy, it did not require a lockable battery compartment, notwithstanding compliance with safety regulations.”
2. ingested button batteries
“Consultant [name redacted] frankly asserted that both he and his colleagues were still worried as they did not know how best to deal with incidents such as this and whilst awareness of the risks and complications arising from ingested button batteries were being raised locally, there was a need for the profile of those risks to be raised nationally.”
3. button batteries
“Concern remains that such batteries are sold in supermarkets and other retail establishments and are often on display at a level that would enable small children to gain access to them whilst unobserved.”
Linked reports
Identical hazardConfidence 0.90 · high
This report
“Concern remains that such batteries are sold in supermarkets and other retail establishments and are often on display at a level that would enable small children to gain access to them whilst unobserved.”
Later report
“The button battery was likely to have come from a remote control. Button batteries once ingested can lead to catastrophic consequences for a child.”
Responses
2014-0461-Response-by-Department-of-Health.pdf ↗· Department of Health and Social Care
Stated action
“My officials will give consideration as to how these professionals can best be supported to use this information to make parents and child carers aware of this issue”