Guidance

Child safety: small hazards, big harm

OPSS is leading a fresh campaign to raise awareness among parents and carers about the potential dangers to children from swallowing small objects.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is leading a fresh campaign to raise awareness among parents and carers about the potential dangers to children from swallowing small objects, particularly magnets and button batteries.

OPSS has produced resources that can be used by local authorities, consumer bodies, community groups and the public to help protect children, including posters and social media materials.

Small hazards, big harm: button batteries

Leaflet

  • (PDF, 2.88 MB, 4 pages)
  • (PDF, 1.72 MB, 4 pages)

Posters

These posters first shared in May 2025 feature 5 top tips to keep children safe and were developed through collaboration with accident prevention charities, clinicians, manufacturers, online marketplaces and trade associations.

  • (PDF, 725 KB, 1 page)
  • (PDF, 173 KB, 1 page)
  • (PDF, 224 KB, 1 page)
  • (PDF, 219 KB, 1 page)

Social media

  • (PNG, 732 KB)
  • (PNG, 909 KB)
  • (PNG, 692 KB)
  • (PNG, 1.03 MB)
  • (PNG, 1.83 MB)

Small hazards, big harm: magnets

Leaflet

  • (PDF, 4.2 MB, 2 pages)
  • (PDF, 2.32 MB, 2 pages)

Poster

  • (PDF, 2.35 MB, 1 page)
  • (PDF, 354 KB, 1 page)

Social media

  • (PNG, 629 KB)
  • (PNG, 1.54 MB)
  • (PNG, 885 KB)
  • (PNG, 638 KB)
  • (PNG, 1.29 MB)

Videos

Small hazards, big harm: small objects

Social media

  • (PNG, 1.36 MB)
  • (PNG, 791 KB)
  • (PNG, 889 KB)

Updates to this page

Published 12 August 2025

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