64 Sunshine Coast children x-rayed after child brings button batteries to childcare

A mother whose daughter died after consuming a button battery in 2013 has slammed manufacturers as more than 60 children were scanned following a childcare centre scare.

Sunshine Coast University Hospital helped scan the children.

More than 60 children have been scanned after remains of a broken toy, containing “deadly” button batteries, were brought into a Sunshine Coast childcare playground.

Sunshine Coast Health received an alert from the childcare facility, which has so far remained unnamed by authorities, about 10.30am on Wednesday, after staff found a broken toy with button batteries missing.

QAS Senior Operations Supervisor James Mayfield told media on Thursday the childcare centre immediately called triple zero after finding the remnants of the broken toy.

Mr Mayfield and another officer attended the scene. He said they were unable to determine exactly what toy it was.

“We believe the product was brought to the facility possibly by children as the facility doesn’t have any known toys with button batteries,” Mr Mayfield said.

“There was still some risk that potentially we didn’t locate all of the button batteries.

“A decision was made that all children involved could have been exposed to that hazard and needed to have an assessment and an x-ray.”

Button batteries are small and easily swallowed by children.

Of the 64 children scanned, all were ranged in age from two to five years.

Mr Mayfield said four button batteries were found on the scene. But because they couldn’t identify the product/toy they did not know how many others may have been outstanding.

“They’d organised for a metal detector to come to sweep the yards where it was found to eliminate any further risks,” he said.

“All children who were assessed have got a clear x-ray result.

“It would have been a daunting phone call for parents to receive. The childcare centre was very transparent with them. The parents arrived in a very timely fashion.”

The childcare centre didn’t shutdown but monitored children for symptoms and advised parents to take their children for x-rays.

Due to their size, button batteries pose a serious choking hazard as they are easy for kids to put in their mouths and accidentally swallow, or to push into their ears or nose.

QAS Senior Operations Supervisor James Mayfield. Photo: Madeline Grace

“There’s a risk of internal burns and ultimately a risk of death,” Mr Mayfield said.

“It’s a life threatening emergency. The symptoms if they do develop are abdominal pain, chest pain and some gastrointestinal bleeding.

“That’s why we took no risk.”

When it comes to keeping children safe from button batteries, Mr Mayfield said prevention was key.

“It’s a timely reminder for parents,” he said.

“But children will be children. We need to look out for them and those potential dangers.

“Lets identify what toys and what products are in the home and what could be accessible to them.”

Andrea Shoesmith’s daughter Summer Steer, 4, was the first child in Australia to die after swallowing a button battery in 2013.

Andrea Shoesmith at a past Summer’s Day in honour of her daughter who died after she swallowed a button battery in 2013.

The Tewantin woman acknowledged the change that had occurred in the health service in more than a decade since her daughter’s death. She said that it was good the children were x-rayed so quickly.

“I jumped up and down for 48 hours (for an x-ray) and watched my daughter die in front of me,” she said.

“I’m very glad they all got x-rayed.”

Summer Steer, 4, from Tewantin, who died after swallowing a button battery in 2013.

She said, however, after 12 years of campaigning she wanted to see more change from manufacturers.

“The batteries themselves are not safe and never will be,” Ms Shoesmith said.

She also begged others to reconsider buying toys with button batteries in them, even if it meant spending more money.

“I know their compartments are safer but the batteries will remain dangerous,” Ms Shoesmith said.

“You’ll pay a lot more if something happens.”

She stressed, though, that parents were not to blame.

“I don’t think it’s the parents’ fault at all because they slip by you,” Ms Shoesmith said.

A Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman confirmed the service provided x-rays for children who may have swallowed button batteries.

“There are currently no confirmed cases of ingestion,” she said.