Southport MP to work with the Harper-Lee Foundation to raise awareness of Button Battery dangers.

Southport MP Damien Moore recently met with representatives of the Harper-Lee Foundation, led by Stacey Nicklin, which is campaigning to raise awareness of the dangers to children of small button batteries.

Last year, Stacey’s daughter Harper-Lee tragically passed away after swallowing a button battery at her home in Stoke-on-Trent. Stacey has now set up the Harper-Lee Foundation to help prevent such a tragedy affecting other families. The charity works with Government, battery manufacturers, retailers, educators, charities, and health professionals to reduce the risk to children of accidents and death from the ingestion of button and coin batteries.

Mr. Moore met with the Foundation to learn more about the dangers which button and coin batteries pose to children, and hear of the work that the portable battery industry, charities, and the Government are doing together to raise awareness of the risks associated with swallowing these types of batteries, with the aim of preventing these incidents occurring in the future.

Button and coin cell batteries are small batteries that are used to power a range of everyday items including car key fobs, remote controls, and children’s toys. However, if swallowed, the larger coin cell batteries in particular can badly injure or kill a child.

After discussing the issues with Stacey in person, Mr. Moore signed the “button battery pledge” to raise awareness of the risks associated with button and coin cell ingestion in Southport.

He is now asking families, schools, and local groups working with children to learn more about the dangers of button batteries, where such batteries can normally be found, and what to do in the event of ingestion.

Damien Moore, MP for Southport, said:

“Sometimes a small piece of awareness can save a life. I recently met with representatives of the Harper-Lee Foundation in Parliament to discuss the work they do, especially among young families and organisations working with children, to increase awareness of the risk to children from small batteries.

“The Foundation was set up to provide a lasting legacy following the death of Harper-Lee Fanthorpe, a child who accidentally swallowed a small button battery and tragically died.

“It only through greater understanding that we can help prevent further tragic deaths and injuries, and so I really do encourage everybody to learn more about the Harper-Lee Foundation's work.”