Button batteries are often used in common household items like remote controls, flashlights, or even musical greeting cards. One of the children suffered a perforated esophagus.
"If we're going to prevent the injury by removing the battery, we have a really narrow timeframe. So this is another case where prevention and awareness is key," said Dr. Steve Krug, MD, Children's Memorial Hospital.
Doctors say battery-related incidents causing severe injury or even death have increased sevenfold in the last 25 years.