Introduction:
LED tea lights are frequently used as a supposedly safer alternative for conventional candlelight, especially when exposed to children. However, if the battery compartment of the product is not firmly closed or screwed, even children could get easy access to the contained button cell. Due to their shiny silver surface, the round button cells are extremely attractive to small children. This bears the risk that children remove and accidentally swallow the button call; potentially leading to serious, even life-threatening injuries.

Objectives:
The aim of the study was to find out whether LED tea lights sold in Austria have child-proof battery compartments that can be screwed down tightly, or not.

Methods:
Test purchases were carried in a total of 129 Austrian retail and online shops between in 2022. Online orders were placed in two online shops specialising in kindergarten, handicraft, and school supplies.

Results:
About half (47%) of the tested shops had LED tea lights in stock at the time of the test purchases. However, only 15 percent of them had a firmly screwable and thus child-safe version in their assortment. This is particularly alarming as safety does not seem to be a question of price: childproof LED tea lights are available in shops for as little as € 0.50 cents per piece - so the price is comparable to that of the unscrewed version.

Conclusion:
There are strict legal regulations regarding child safety for toys that are put on the EU market (EN 62115): If toys contain button cells, the battery compartment may only be opened with a tool. For LED tea lights, no such requirement is specified here. European standardisation bodies should consider expanding this requirement to products such as LED tea lights. Retailers are requested to sell only child-proof LED tea lights, on a voluntary basis, even if there is no legal requirement, yet.

Keywords: Child Safety, LED-Tealights, Button Cell Battery, Coin Battery, Product Safety

KFV (Austrian Road Safety Board) - Vienna  - Austria