don't swallow watch batteries

a watch battery stuck in a hot dog creates what looks like a chemical burn but what's actually happening is electrolysis. don't let your children eat button batteries.

#electrolysis #chemicalreaction #batteries

[Goldenleyend]

"dont eat batteries" is such a controversial statement, that it definitely needed good explanation. However, he said it would kill a child, which I'm not, so it wont stop me.

[tc]

This is the first time I've ever seen WHY it's so dangerous to swallow a watch battery. Excellent video.

[laxbmm]

ER doctor here --
If you polled me and my colleagues for their top 5 most feared items, button batteries would be on most lists.

[Ella-rcnz]

I remember once someone came to talk to our school about mental health he told us a heart-wrenching story about a boy who was terribly bullied at home and at school. Kids would force him to swallow batteries as a part of their torment. I remember this child’s entire story vividly as the man telling it was a very effective presenter, but the part about the batteries just makes me sick to think about. Now that was before I knew what they do to flesh. I am absolutely horrified by this info. That child eventually took his own life but I cannot fathom the hell on earth he endured before that. The mental torment he went through, the physical and mental abuse and neglect. To have to endure all that as your tissue dissolving from the inside out, it seems unimaginable.

[teviston]

if i shouldn't eat batteries they shouldn't taste so good.

[BigKrubpom]

As a doctor, I have never seen the danger of battery ingestion so clearly demonstrated before. Good job!

[pandabear]

They have children consistently swallow honey on the way to the ER if suspected of swallowing a battery…it amazingly creates a barrier between the stomach lining and the battery significantly neutralizing the ill affect of the “electrolysis” shown here. Great video.

[MeekandMe]

I can’t wait to get home and swallow all my batteries to become invisible! Thanks! You’re the best!

[jml_]

When my son was around 7, he swallowed a button battery. He had ADHD and was always fidgeting and putting things in his mouth. He didn't even realize what he was doing... until he swallowed it. Then he freaked out. We took him straight over to the ER. They did an x-ray and confirmed it was there. The doc wasn't too concerned.

He gave me the fun job of watching for it to pass through. Fortunately, it did within a day. It was really shiny, but otherwise, no worse for the wear.

A couple years later, the same son swallowed a quarter. They had to go in and retrieve that because it was too big and got stuck in his esophagus. No incidents since then (he's 29 now). So I think he finally learned.

[Moofiez]

I am glad you made this simple video. Too many parents aren't at all aware of the danger these pose to their children.

[danieljohns]

That ham experiment should be done in schools, obviously with safety precautions. It’s a strikingly clear demonstration of how reactions work. I have done college chemistry for a couple years now and the acidic/basic visual contrast here would be insane for some younger kids/teens

[pithyginger]

I remember learning that corrosive esophagitis was way worse with bases than acids. This is a great demo of that

[johnhightshoe]

Paramedic here. Seen this in person and it isn’t pretty in the slightest. But if you ever even suspect your key has swallowed a button battery and they are over the age of 1, feed them honey, a few spoon fulls to try and coat the battery and slow this from happening while also being on the phone with local emergency services to take your kiddo to the ER. Don’t let anyone try and write off your concerns, play it safe and have them image your kid to confirm if there is a battery or not.

[derekofalltrades]

"The ham is getting translucent"
This is the new way to say "things are getting serious."

[efretheim]

When I was much younger, in the 70s, I had a wonderful appliance in which you jammed hotdogs onto metal spikes (each end of the hotdog is spiked) and then applied wall socket electric current across them to cook them. Took way less than a minute. It was surely the most insanely dangerous thing I ever had, but man was it cool.

[NirvairaChintha]

"don't swallow watch batteries"
Dang it! what am I supposed to eat for lunch now?

[KingDeadMan]

If only PSAs could be this direct & informative, instead of theatrical & comical.

[mrslunashadow]

I really felt targeted by this video, lol.
When I was around three years old, my mom laid a watch battery on the TV. Out of curiosity, I moved a chair to reach it. For some reason, I swallowed the battery—don’t ask me why; I don’t remember anything about it. Everything I know is based on what my mom told me.

After a while, my mom realized the battery was missing and asked me where it was. I pointed to my mouth and said "ah ah, " trying to indicate that I had eaten it, lol.

My mom then rushed me to the hospital, where they removed it with a small tube and a magnet. By the time they took it out, it had already started to rust.

I’m not sure if it was an empty battery or a new one, but I can say that your experiment really makes me grateful for my mom's quick action. If she hadn't noticed, it could have turned into a bad situation for me. Thanks, Mom!

[Andre-qoek]

we need more PSAs like this. explained so well .

[berkaykaracan]

I arranged a battery eating contest and this video saved our lives