Lithium ion battery is the common battery used in flashlights, portable radios, and toys. There may be harmful effects if a person swallows a lithium ion 18650 battery. And licking liquid from a leaking battery or swallowing a battery is also harmful.

Symptoms of swallowing batteries depend on what type of battery is swallowed. If a lithium ion battery is swallowed, there may be symptoms such as severe pain in the mouth, inability to breathe, severe pain in the throat, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, drooling, rapid drop in blood pressure and collapse.

Immediate emergency treatment is important when any battery is swallowed. If lifepo4 batteries are swallowed, do not induce vomiting or give food or drinks. You should consult a physician immediately. Give the person water or milk if advised by a health care provider.

If the person breathed in fumes from the battery, it is better to move the person to fresh air immediately before seeking medical advice. Don’t make a person throw up unless you are told to do so by a health care professional. Before calling for emergency medical help, determine the information such as patient’s age, weight, and condition, type of Polymer Lithium ion Battery swallowed, the time at which it was swallowed and the amount swallowed.

When the health care professional arrives, he will measure and monitor the patient’s vital signs, such as temperature, pulse rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. It is essential to take x-rays immediately to make sure the battery is not stuck in the esophagus. Most swallowed batteries will pass in the stool without complication. But if a battery gets stuck in the esophagus, it will quickly cause a hole in the esophagus. To remove a battery stuck in the esophagus, the patient may also need an upper GI endoscopy.

The health condition of the person who swallowed an lithium ion battery depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment was received. These patients can have better chance of recovery if they get immediate medical help. Full recovery is also possible if treated quickly. Alkaline batteries, especially alkaline button batteries should be kept where small children cannot touch. And you should also dispose the used-up alkaline batteries.