Product safety tips

Look. Look around your home for button batteries. Think toys, lights, remote controls & more.

Check. Check for products with loose backs & button batteries that have dropped out.

Store. Store button batteries in a safe place, up high & out of a child’s reach.

Dispose. Dispose of used button batteries as soon as you can. They are still unsafe.

Act. If you think a child may have swallowed a button battery:

- Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if your child is having any difficulty breathing.

- Call 13 11 26 immediately for 24/7 fast & expert advice from the Poisons Information Centre.

For more information, please visit: ACCC Button Batteries Guide.

- Overheating: If your device’s battery feels extremely hot to the touch.

- Deformation: If your battery looks swollen. Similar signs include any type of lump or leaking from the device.

- Noise: If your battery is making hissing or cracking sounds.- Smell: If you notice a strong or unusual smell coming from the battery.

- Performance: If your battery does not fully charge or is taking longer to charge than normal.

- Smoke: If your battery or device is smoking.

- Don’t charge e-bikes & e-scooters in bedrooms or where escape routes can be blocked, like hallways.

- Don’t leave your battery charging unattended such as when you are out or while you are asleep.

- Don't cover chargers or battery packs when charging.

- Don't overload sockets or use multiple extension leads.

- Don’t charge or store batteries in direct sunlight or in hot locations (above 45⁰C).

- Don't charge batteries close to combustible materials or hazardous substances.

- Always unplug your charger when you have finished charging.

- If your battery can be removed from your e-bike or e-scooter & charged separately, it should be charged on a hard flat surface where heat can disperse & in an area with good ventilation.

- Conversion kits change standard bicycles into e-bikes.

- It is recommended that a professional carries out an e-bike conversion. They will be responsible for ensuring that the e-bike is safe & fitted with the correct motor, battery & charger.

- Installing a conversion kit yourself could lead to safety issues with your e-bike & increase the risk of fire.

- It could also invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty & make you responsible for any consequent damage or accident. If you modify an e-bike to increase its power or speed then it may no longer be legal to use.

For more information please visit ACCC Lithium-ion batteries guide, ACCC Safely use batteries & technology guide or the ACT Emergency Services Agency.

- Bassinets, cradles and cots have a mandatory standard. Look for safety warning statements when you buy.

- Babies should always sleep on their back on a flat, firm and level surface with their head and face uncovered. Remove any loose items, such as soft toys, sleep comforters, and blankets.

- Products that use restraints or position a baby’s head or body in an inclined, propped or curved position are unsafe for sleeping.

Tips on how to settle baby to sleep safely.

It is recommended that pillows should not be used for babies until they are at least 12 months old. This is because babies lose a lot of heat through their heads. If a baby is sleeping on a soft surface that their head can sink into, heat is prevented from escaping & they can get too hot. There is a higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) if a baby overheats.

- Sleep bags should be well fitted (with neck & arm holes that fit well) so that your baby can’t wriggle down inside & overheat or suffocate.

- The presence of hoods or head coverings can also be dangerous as they can raise a child’s core temperature or obstruct the baby’s airways.

- Feeding & soothing a baby can be challenging. It’s hard to tell if they are hungry or want comfort.

- Products like dummies, dummy chains & high chairs can make it a bit easier.

- Make sure you know how to safely use the products designed to help soothe & feed your baby.

A baby needs their caregiver with them while they are feeding, so they can react if the baby starts gagging or choking. Any product which encourages parents to leave their baby alone to feed with a propped-up bottle should never be used.

For more information, please visit: ACCC Keep baby safe.

- Don't just fit a smoke alarm in your hall & landing, also fit them in any room where a fire can start. For example, any room where you smoke or leave appliances plugged in.

- Smoke alarms are not suitable for kitchens but heat alarms are. Fitting a heat alarm in your kitchen will give you warning of an increase in temperature caused by a fire but will not be set off by cooking fumes.

- Some battery or mains alarms can be interlinked, so that when one alarm detects a fire they all go off together, giving you warning wherever you are in your home. This is particularly important where a person has any issues that may prevent or delay their escape to ensure they are alerted to a fire as soon as possible.

- If you choose to have a mains-powered alarm, make sure it's installed by a qualified electrician.

- It's also possible to fit extra automatic 'fire suppression' systems at home, like sprinklers. These are a great idea if there's anything that might prevent you escaping quickly.

- A single smoke alarm isn't enough.

- Consider everyone's needs, if there's any reason there might be a delay in noticing or escaping from a fire, seek extra help.

- Make sure any smoke alarms you buy are marked with the Australian Standard (AS 3786:2014), which shows they are approved & safe.

- Fit smoke alarms on a ceiling or high up on a wall, if the instructions state it is suitable for wall mounting.

- Make sure you fit an appropriate alarm in every room where there's a fire risk.

- Follow the instructions that come with the alarm when it comes to installation, they all work in different ways.

- Use screws not glue. If you use glue, it can seep into the alarm & stop it working.

- Fit your smoke alarms away from kitchens or bathrooms as steam can damage the alarm, or set it off by mistake.

- Fit a heat alarm in the kitchen.

- Choose smoke alarms with a 10 year or long-lasting sealed battery.

For more information please visit: ACCC Smart home devices guide & ACCC Safely use batteries & technology guide.