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New Child-Proof Hearing Aid Battery Packaging

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Edited

I haven’t seen anything here about it. Perhaps it’s been discussed and I’ve missed it. If so, could somebody point me to the discussion?

This packaging is the new law of the land. So far as I can tell, one youngster swallowed a battery and died. (Do I have this right, or have there been others? Don’t know.)

I buy batteries from Costco, the rotary dispenser. The new batteries come in a box. The “look” of the packaging is similar to the previous. But getting the batteries out is a horse of a different color. There are radial cutting lines. But the tip of our scissors would not cut the stiff cardboard. So we bought new scissors. Ditto.

The only way that I’ve found to separate the batteries from the packaging is to cut in a circular pattern around the batteries, then try to pry the top and bottom of the packing apart. Then I have 8 batteries in hand. You can’t let these batteries touch each other, even with the adhesive insulators intact, or they will get drained. So far, I’ve loaded the loose batteries into a couple of empty, old packages that I happened to have kept.

Is all of this because of the tragic death of one youngster? And how does a person die when swallowing a tiny, sealed device with smooth edges that should pass through the gut in a day? And why is there a regulation that affects millions of seniors with arthritic hands, and no decent packaging solution that serves everybody’s interests (think child-proof medicine bottles as a decent solution)?

What am I missing? I’m all for safety of children, but I just am not up to speed on what’s happened here. Could somebody help me understand?

65 people in this conversation38 min readJump to latest
Edited
@Torbill said:

And how does a person die when swallowing a tiny, sealed device with smooth edges that should pass through the gut in a day?

This is “They meant well, they [battery manufacturers] performed badly.” case. I think it could be solved in a better way.

The Hearing Journal (lww.com)4

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image

NatPSA_hearing_aid_batteries_December_2019_FINAL.pdf (england.nhs.uk)5

@Torbill said:

And how does a person die when swallowing a tiny, sealed device with smooth edges that should pass through the gut in a day?

That shape of battery makes it ideal to obstruct rounded trachea/brochus and make swelling of their lining.

There are narrow spots in the oesophagus where the battery could get stuck, for example at the level of the aortic arch, and cause lesions or even perforations.

image

However, I believe that battery manufacturers should rethink their packaging. They should not be unfriendly and discouraging to the user.

@Torbill said:

I haven’t seen anything here about it. Perhaps it’s been discussed and I’ve missed it. If so, could somebody point me to the discussion?

in this thread is also a discussion about this

"Child Resistant" hearing aid batteries — issues?
Just curious if anyone’s having issues with child proof hearing aid batteries. We’re starting to see all disposable hearing aid batteries coming in new packaging to comply with Reece’s Law. I’ve heard from a few folks that they are struggling. Energizer claims that their batteries are “senior considerate” sweat_smile. Anyone have any experience? Any brands batter than others? Is this the end of disposable hearing aid batteries? [image]

There has been posts on social media about the new packaging. Reese’s Law, I believe, after the name of the child that died, is responsible. The new packaging is NOT elderly friendly. In my mind, because of the difficulty of extracting the batteries, will result in more batteries ending up on the floor and increasing the risk of an accident. Irresponsible parenting and clueless politician’s seem to be part of our culture.

Unfortunately I could not agree more.

After struggling with the packaging, using every scissors in the house, none of which could make the cuts shown in the directions due to lack of leverage/sharpness/whatever, and buying a new scissors that worked no better, I resorted to a box cutter. I almost cut myself with the box cutter, trying to make radial cuts in VERY stubborn plastic while trying to hold down the package. How many seniors are going to hurt themselves? What is with a “solution” that requires tools, and the tools that are specified don’t even work?!

Some of the human tragedy lies with the parents of the tyke. I don’t want to sound callous, but my parents watched me like a hawk and I got a “spit it out!” immediately for those rare occasions when they didn’t catch me before the act. And that’s the way that we raised our kids. But mostly, it is the manufacturers who should be ashamed of themselves for the “solution” they are peddling; seniors are going to be frustrated and many will hurt themselves. The world is full of well thought out tamper proof packaging solutions. This one ain’t that; it is an absolute abomination.

In reply to @firenzel

I can’t open the new battery dispensers. It isn’t safe because I have to cut them out on the counter and hope to find them all. Then I have to put them in something to carry with me to change out the batteries when needed. They need to find a way that is manageable and safe. Using scissors is NOT.

It’s beyond stupid. What I do is to use a scissors and cut all the way around the batteries, as close to them as possible. Then I remove all of the batteries and put them into an old battery package.

My friend did some research on this, and told me the following: 1. Zinc-Air batteries, which is what batteries are, are exempt from the law. 2. There have been no adverse findings with children swallowing HA batteries and getting sick or dying. (There ARE about 55K reports per year of kids swallowing batteries.)

So, is this horrible packaging even required? I haven’t verified my friends research, but I do trust it - he is a post-doc research psychologist by training and knows how to read the literature.

We need batteries packaged for households without children, marked like these pills:

Screenshot 2024-12-01 085355

In reply to @Torbill

@Torbill said:

My friend did some research on this, and told me the following: 1. Zinc-Air batteries, which is what HA batteries are, are exempt from the law.

It looks to me that they are not exempt.

See https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Business-Education/Business-Guidance/Button-Cell-and-Coin-Battery14

Pursuant to the exercise of enforcement discretion, at this time special packaging for zinc-air button cell or coin batteries will not be enforced until March 8, 2024. For more information on the enforcement discretion, see the Commission’s Statement of Policy.

Edited

I suggest we all write to our congress representatives and to the Consumer Product Commission. Taking action is what we need folks.

I would be interesting to see with a court challenge would bring.

A more practical approach might be that if we could find a source of supply that has usable packaging somebody here tells us what the source is and we all stop buying the bad packaging and start buying the good packaging. No bureaucrats needed.

How about it, everybody? Anybody found packaging that makes sense?

I’m due for a new set of batteries from Costco, here in Quebec the last time the battery were not in this new package format, I use an old memory card holder to store them on my person, and if the new package format is the norm in Canada, the my metal shears will take care of it.

Well after watching a how to video on opening these packages, I don’t seem to have any problems removing the battery. The key is to cut all the way to the center.

However you still need to use a scissors. And I can see where someone with severe arthritis would have problems. But someone with severe arthritis would probably have problems inserting the battery into the hearing aid.

My wife and I went so far as to buy new scissors, figuring that what he had for scissors weren’t up to the job. New scissors weren’t any better. The problem we encountered is that you have to work out at the tip of the scissors. There is no leverage when you are working out at the end of a pair of scissors. And the packaging material is very stiff and difficult to cut. So I don’t know how you are having so little trouble, but I’m happy for you.

You want a short bladed scissors, and perhaps trauma shears would be good. I’m not sure I’d want to be trying to get that knob in between the plastic layers, but it is pretty safe. There are other short bladed scissors out there with pointy ends and very short blades that would probably do a great job. For my button cell opening I will confess to using a folding 3" bladed knife I keep on me almost all the time. Maybe not the safest, but I know the tool well and it does the job quickly.

WH

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