A Texas mother turned her 18-month-old daughter’s death after swallowing a button battery into a push for safer batteries and new store shelf technology.
TEXAS – A Texas mother turned her 18-month-old daughter’s death after swallowing a button battery into a push for safer batteries and new store shelf technology.
Reese Hamsmith started wheezing and coughing in October 2020, and a doctor sent her home with antibiotics.
A second trip to the emergency room showed Reese had swallowed a button battery that lodged in her esophagus and kept burning tissue even after doctors surgically removed it.
She died seven weeks later. Her mother, Trista Hamsmith, later created Reese’s Purpose, a nonprofit that works to help other families avoid the same danger.
“You know, if Reese had swallowed this battery, we would still have her,” said Trista Hamsmith. “It’s called Energizer Ultimate Child Shield. If it’s in their mouth, it will dye their mouth blue.”
“That no burns will take place. This battery prevents burning,” said Hamsmith.
Hamsmith made many trips to Energizer’s headquarters in St. Louis to promote Reese’s Purpose and push for safer button batteries.
Hamsmith took her fight to Washington, D.C., where Rep. Jodey Arrington helped pass Reese’s Law, which requires federal safety standards for button battery packaging.
“And little did I know how big her purpose was. It wasn’t as I envisioned it, but isn’t that how God works always?” said Hamsmith.
Old button batteries still remain in products including cell phones, musical greeting cards, toys, keyless fobs, flameless candles and remote controls.
“So it’s all about education to parents, caregivers everyone,” said Hamsmith.
Walmart will carry the new Energizer technology and other stores will get it soon.
Reese is buried at Peaceful Gardens in Lubbock, and Hamsmith said her daughter’s purpose continues through wider child safety work.
“Things like magnets, water beads, furniture tip-overs. So, for me, I guess learned for myself as well. Reese gave me a different purpose in life that I guess was the plan all along,” said Hamsmith. “So it’s far from over.”
Hamsmith also said families should give honey at regular intervals on the way to the hospital if a child older than 12 months swallows a button battery, because it can help coat the battery until doctors remove it.
