“Listen to me carefully”. I am a WATCHMAKER who has been dealing with “button batteries” since the early 1960’s. They are a simple, tiny, very useful article that can truly, if mishandled by DEADLY. You can (and do) sneer at the government that banned MERCURY batteries, but for once be grateful.
The original ACCUTRON watches utilized a MERCURY battery that was changable by the owner. Careless or unthinking disposal of the old battery put thousands of little children in danger of mercury poisoning. Little kids will ingest anything that will fit into their mouths. The digestive fluids in the human stomach will eat out the seals and metal of the battery rapidly.
The old Mercury and more modern Alkaline batteries are small, ranging from 4.8mm to 11.6mm in diameter. Those little ones are the size of normal pills and are swallowed easily.
Lithium batteries from 9.5mm to 25mm and, with most ranging around 16mm to 20mm are less likely to be swalloed, but still dangerous.
Many thousands of people attempt to change watch batteries themselves and are not aware of the potential danger of the smaller batteries.
Happily, for me, many people also damage their high grade quartz watches changing the battery.
NOTHING sounds easier than the phrase, “Change the battery” Nothing is more wrong.
The fact is that you MUST WATCH YOUR KIDS and pay attention to what they are doing. YOU! Not the government.