Additional Coverage:
- Energizer Developed a Button Battery to Save Lives, But This Mom Has Been Fighting for Safer Products for Years (momswhothink.com)
Each year in the United States, over 3,500 cases of coin lithium battery ingestion are reported, mostly involving children aged 0 to 6. Because a 20mm battery is roughly the same diameter as a child’s esophagus, it can easily become lodged if swallowed. When this happens, the battery can cause severe internal burns within 15 minutes and potentially life-threatening injuries within hours.
Cari Curtis, Senior Director of Global Marketing at Energizer®, highlights the urgency behind these numbers. For Energizer, they are the driving force behind the creation of the Energizer® Ultimate Child Shield-the world’s first and only lithium battery designed to prevent burning if accidentally ingested. This breakthrough innovation offers vital protection and peace of mind to parents and caregivers, potentially saving thousands of young lives.
A Commitment to Safety and Innovation
Energizer® has long been a pioneer in battery safety, continually advancing technologies to protect consumers. Curtis explains that the Ultimate Child Shield represents the culmination of decades of research and investment.
Building on prior innovations such as Color Alert Technology-which dyes the mouth blue upon contact with saliva-this new battery features a proprietary titanium alloy designed to stop internal burns before they can start. It also includes a non-toxic bitter coating to discourage swallowing and comes in child-resistant packaging.
With everyday devices becoming smaller and increasingly powered by 20mm lithium coin batteries, the risk of accidental ingestion grows. Energizer’s innovation addresses this hazard at its core, providing a critical safety net. The Color Alert Technology further enhances protection by offering an immediate visual cue, giving parents precious time to respond in an emergency.
Expanding Access to Life-Saving Technology
Looking ahead, Energizer aims to make the Ultimate Child Shield widely available. Curtis emphasizes the company’s dedication to ensuring that all retailers offer this safer battery option to consumers. Overcoming manufacturing challenges while maintaining the high performance consumers expect was no easy task, but Energizer has succeeded in setting a new industry standard.
“We envision a future where batteries like the Ultimate Child Shield are the norm on store shelves,” Curtis says, optimistic about the impact this technology will have on child safety.
Raising Awareness Through Personal Tragedy
The importance of such innovations is underscored by stories like that of Trista Hamsmith, founder of Reese’s Purpose and National Button Battery Awareness Day. After tragically losing her 18-month-old daughter, Reese, to battery ingestion, Hamsmith now dedicates herself to educating the public about these dangers.
Her message to parents is clear: “Don’t let fear paralyze you. Let it prepare you.”
She encourages caregivers to stay informed, take preventive measures, trust their instincts in emergencies, and seek medical help immediately when needed. “Parenting isn’t about being perfect-it’s about doing the best you can with the information you have and learning something new every day,” she says.
Legislative Progress and Ongoing Challenges
Battery safety has seen significant improvements recently, including the passage of Reese’s Law in August 2022. Named in honor of Hamsmith’s daughter, the law requires that battery compartments for coin and button cells be secured with a tool or require two independent simultaneous movements to open. This legislation has already helped save lives by raising awareness and prompting safer product designs.
Hamsmith shares stories of parents who, thanks to the awareness raised by Reese’s Purpose, have recognized hazards in their homes and taken swift action to protect their children. “Education saves lives,” she affirms, highlighting that outreach complements legislation by changing daily behaviors and outcomes.
A Shared Mission to Protect Children
Despite progress, a 2026 poll revealed that nearly half of parents remain unaware of the dangers posed by coin batteries or consider them a threat only upon direct contact with their children. Organizations like Reese’s Purpose and companies like Energizer® are working together to bridge this gap through education and innovation.
Hamsmith hopes for a future where child safety is a priority in product design from the outset, reducing the need for emergency interventions. “If Reese’s life means a child gets to celebrate another birthday, another Christmas morning, another first day of school, then every difficult conversation and challenge was worth it,” she reflects.
Through advances like the Energizer® Ultimate Child Shield and ongoing advocacy, the goal is clear: to prevent tragic accidents and protect children across the country, one battery at a time.