Battery Warning - OH SO SAD!! - Real Mum story on MoM

11 Comments

This week, a heartbroken family mourns the loss of their “little pocket rocket”. Beautiful four-year-old Summer Steer, little sister to Finn and a beloved daughter to Brad and Andrea, lost her life in a tragic household accident.

Sometime on Sunday, unbeknownst to her family, Summer ingested a small button lithium battery, the kind found in many household items.

Summer was rushed to hospital after becoming uncharacteristically ill. When scans picked up the presence of the battery it became obvious what the problem was.

When swallowed, these small batteries can get caught in the oesophagus and start to burn a hole. The chemical reaction is triggered by the body’s saliva and can keep burning through various layers of tissue and organs right through to the spine.

Although she fought bravely, Summer tragically lost her battle.

The family thanked all medical staff and helicopter crew who treated Summer at the Noosa and Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospitals.

“Sadly what occurred could have happened to anyone with small children, and we sincerely hope that this tragedy will act as a warning to all parents,” Summer’s parents said in a statement. “Remain vigilant, and if you are in any doubt seek medical assistance immediately.”

Posted by makimoo, 3rd July 2013

11 Comments

- - Nas01, VIC said
  - 08 Dec 2015
    11:36 pm
Such a tragic story. It can happen to any small child so we must be so careful. Thought Ma and sympathies to family.

- - mom94125, VIC said
  - 20 Jun 2015
    4:46 pm
so damn sad! poor family. i hope that child wasn’t suffering too much. my gosh. so so sad. no words….

- - mom113055, VIC said
  - 26 Mar 2015
    9:14 pm
it s a great top story

- - mom109463, VIC said
  - 25 Jan 2015
    8:03 pm
How tragic, thankyou to the parents for sharing and issuing this warning, how many of us replace these batteries and just throw them in a jar, or the junk drawer in the kitchen, I know I have heaps of these batteries laying around because I use them is many things including my kitchen scales, and tend to replace them every couple of months so I always have spares, I had never given it a thought how dangerous they could be, RIP little one.

- - pakeko, VIC said
  - 06 Jan 2015
    9:57 pm
Oh my goodness how sad, thank you for the warning

- - mom57522, VIC said
  - 05 Jan 2015
    4:27 pm
That’s just so sad. Those batteries are going away in a safe spot.

- - eestigirl, VIC said
  - 23 Jun 2014
    3:42 pm
That is just the saddest thing. I will put those batteries away as vigilantly as medications after reading that.

- - jodie80, VIC said
  - 26 Mar 2014
    7:41 pm
there should be more awareness about these batteries. they are dangerous

- - snoopy, VIC said
  - 09 Jul 2013
    7:10 am
Such a beautiful little girl she was. It really is awful. It could have happened to anyone so easily which is quite scarey too.

- - taz_za87, VIC said
  - 04 Jul 2013
    11:30 am
oh so sorry to hear

- - curlytops, VIC said
  - 04 Jul 2013
    10:58 am
how terrible. my heart goes out to these families