Townsville State of Origin warning over batteries in free beanies

A mother has warned parents to keep their children away from free beanies handed out at the Townsville State of Origin match after they were found to contain a safety hazard.

Parents are being warned about a free beanie handed out at the State of Origin last week after a toddler’s close call with a small battery.

The free Queensland beanies were given out at the Townsville game last Wednesday and have since been found to contain a button battery inside a small compartment.

A Townsville mother has since urged parents to keep the beanies away from small children after her two-year-old daughter accessed the battery and put it in her mouth.

Michelle Lequeria told the Townsville Bulletin she was shocked to come home from work and discover her daughter’s babysitter had retrieved the potentially deadly battery from her daughter’s mouth.

The Queensland beanie handed out for free at the Townsville State of Origin game and the small compartment containing a button battery.

Ms Lequeria said it was extremely lucky her daughter had not swallowed the battery, which was accessible to children in the unsecured compartment.

“It was a shock to see it just clips open with no screw locking it,” she said.

“We were extremely lucky. The thought of it makes me quite sick.”

The beanies were handed out to footy goers for free from a stall inside the stadium, with the batteries used to power flashing lights inside the beanie.

A QRL spokesperson told News Corp they were seeking information from the supplier.

Three children have died and dozens more have suffered serious injury after ingesting the coin-sized batteries in Australia since 2013.

The unsecured compartment containing the coin-sized battery.

The small batteries pose a serious choking hazard to children due to their size, and can be easily swallowed or pushed up the nose.

They are found in common household items, such as children’s toys, remote controls, watches and car keys.

Last December, the Federal Government introduced new mandatory safety standards after a spate of button battery-related injuries in children.

The crackdown requires manufacturers, suppliers and retailers to ensure batteries are in secure compartments that cannot be accessed by children.

Originally published as Townsville State of Origin warning over batteries in free beanies