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What to do if…
someone may have swallowed a button battery and they seem fine so far

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Possible button battery swallowing needs urgent assessment even if they seem well: go to the nearest A&E now, or call 999 for an ambulance if you cannot get there safely. Tell staff at once: “possible button battery swallowed.”

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait for symptoms to appear.
  • Do not make them vomit.
  • Do not give food or drink, except for the limited child-only honey step below if it is safe and does not delay A&E.
  • Do not use home remedies.
  • Do not assume it was only a coin without medical checking.
  • Do not poke, flush, or probe the mouth, nose, or ear to look for it.
  • Do not let the person who may have swallowed the battery drive.

What to do now

  1. Leave for A&E now, or call 999 for an ambulance. Say clearly: “Possible button battery swallowed.” Do not let the person who may have swallowed the battery drive. If they have trouble breathing, noisy breathing, persistent choking, repeated vomiting, blood in vomit or spit, severe chest, neck, throat, or abdominal pain, extreme sleepiness, collapse, or a sudden voice change, call 999.

  2. For a child aged 12 months or older only, consider honey while going to A&E if all of these are true:

    • the possible swallowing was within the last 12 hours
    • runny honey is immediately available
    • the child can swallow safely
    • giving it will not delay leaving or getting emergency help

    Give 2 teaspoons, about 10 mL, every 10 minutes while you are on the way. Do not give honey to a baby under 12 months. Do not give honey to an adult unless a clinician tells you to. Skip honey if the person is choking, very drowsy, vomiting repeatedly, refusing, or struggling.

  3. Otherwise, keep them nil by mouth. That means no food or drink unless A&E or 999 tells you differently.

  4. Bring anything that helps identify the battery. Take the device it may have come from, any matching spare battery, and the packaging if you can grab them quickly. Do not delay leaving to find these.

  5. Write down the timing if you can. Note when the battery or device was last definitely intact, when you noticed it missing, and whether there was any coughing, gagging, drooling, vomiting, swallowing difficulty, or chest, throat, neck, or tummy pain.

  6. Mention uncertainty clearly. If you are not sure it was swallowed, say that. Also tell A&E if it could be in the nose or an ear, especially with a child, but do not try to remove it yourself.

  7. Keep watching during the journey. If breathing, alertness, bleeding, choking, pain, or voice changes get worse, call 999 immediately.

What can wait

  • You do not need to prove it definitely happened before seeking urgent care.
  • You do not need to identify the exact battery size before leaving.
  • You do not need to search stools now.
  • You do not need to decide what treatment is needed; A&E will assess that.
  • You do not need to tidy up, phone everyone, or keep checking online before going.

Important reassurance

It is common for someone to look well at first after a possible button battery swallowing. The urgent action is not because you have failed or because symptoms must already be present; it is because damage can start before it is obvious.

Scope note

These are first steps only, to get the person safely into urgent medical assessment. Hospital staff may need to decide about x-rays, monitoring, removal, or specialist care.

Important note

This is general information, not medical advice. If you think a button battery may have been swallowed, treat it as urgent and seek emergency medical help.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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