AirTag battery is a choking hazard, Australian regulator warns parents

Posted:
in iOS edited June 2021
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is now urging parents to keep AirTags out of the reach of young children for safety reasons.




In May 2021, Australian retailer Officeworks withdrew Apple's AirTags from sale over battery concerns. An Officeworks spokesperson said the company would wait "until further guidance is provided from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission." The ACCC has now issued a statement advising parents to keep AirTags out of the reach of small children because of their small batteries.

"As a safety precaution, we urge parents to keep AirTags away from their children," said Delia Rickard, ACCC Deputy Chair, in a statement. "We know that small children can be fascinated by keys and love playing with them, so there is a risk that they could access this product, which is designed to be attached to a key ring, among other things."

The issue is specifically to do with the small batteries contained within AirTags, and how easily accessible they are. According to the ACCC, more than one child per month is seriously injured by eating the batteries, or putting them in their ears.

As well as it being simple to access the battery in an AirTag, the ACCC claims that the battery compartment does not always fully secure when closed. The regulator says that a distinctive note plays when the AirTag's lid is closed, but this does not indicate that the covering is secure.

"We were also concerned that the outer product packaging does not have any warning about the presence and dangers of button batteries, and we note that Apple has now added a warning label to the AirTag's packaging," continued Rickard, "However, this alone does not address our fundamental concerns about children being able to access the button batteries in these devices."

The ACCC has previously run a video campaign warning against so-called button batteries, and is now re-running the campaign.






"We are continuing to investigate to determine what actions may be required to address our safety concerns," continued Rickard. "We are also liaising with our international counterparts on the safety of Apple AirTags, and at least one overseas public safety regulator is also examining the safety of this product at this stage."

Apple has not commented on the new warning, however the ACCC notes that it has previously stated AirTags are designed to meet international child safety standards.

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 26
    Simply use a keychain that wraps around the AirTag!
    cornchipwilliamlondon
  • Reply 2 of 26
    CiaranFCiaranF Posts: 23member
    Is this not obvious anyway? Just news cos it’s Apple in the spotlight.
    williamlondon
  • Reply 3 of 26
    Child safety is of course paramount. However, why this particular product? Why not first start with ALL automotive manufacturers that provide keyless entry fobs. Many are relatively easy to get into to gain access to the button cell batteries. 
    twokatmewchia
  • Reply 4 of 26
    MplsPMplsP Posts: 3,911member
    Since the entire airtag is barely bigger than the battery, they should consider the entire device a choking hazard. 

    People want small devices, then complain because they’re small. Make up your mind. 
    twokatmewDnykjpRfC6fnBs
  • Reply 5 of 26
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,275member
    OMG. Children can also be "fascinated" with calculators and a million other items that use CR2032 or similarly sized or even smaller batteries. How about all those Christmas ornaments that use tiny watch batteries?! Those are probably even more fascinating and cheaply made.


    edited June 2021 twokatmewwilliamlondonrcfapscooter63
  • Reply 6 of 26
    elijahgelijahg Posts: 2,753member
    So like any other device that has a button cell? 
    rcfaDBSync
  • Reply 7 of 26
    Breaking news, scientists discover quarters, nickels and dimes are choking hazards!
    p-dogwilliamlondonrcfaRayz2016roundaboutnowcornchipdewmelarryjwDBSyncpscooter63
  • Reply 8 of 26
    RadMaxRadMax Posts: 14member
    Any object that can be put in a mouth is a potential choking hazard.  Many foods (i.e. sliced hotdogs, grapes, etc.) are choking hazards.  Why focus on one product from Apple?
    williamlondonDBSync
  • Reply 9 of 26
    kkqd1337kkqd1337 Posts: 424member
    So is their price 
    pscooter63RadMax
  • Reply 10 of 26
    Apple is being criticized in UK that they don't make their devices repairable. Apple is being criticized in Australia that their device is repairable using a regular battery. It's a funny world.
    patchythepirateDBSync
  • Reply 11 of 26
    crowleycrowley Posts: 10,453member
    I must have missed the time when Apple advertised the AirTags as a children's toy.
    patchythepirateDBSyncelijahg
  • Reply 12 of 26
    AppleishAppleish Posts: 687member
    I've swallowed three just since getting up this morning. I'm just a kid at heart!
    patchythepiratemike1dewmepscooter63tht
  • Reply 13 of 26
    sflocalsflocal Posts: 6,092member
    Right here.  For something so obvious, because it's Apple it gets a news piece.  I will bet money that there are some bottom-feeding lawyers just waiting for a kid to choke on an Airtag so they can sue Apple, because it just can't ever be the fault of the parents right?
    DBSync
  • Reply 14 of 26
    Because no car keys have a battery in them right?…. 🧐
  • Reply 15 of 26
    mknelsonmknelson Posts: 1,118member
    mike1 said:
    OMG. Children can also be "fascinated" with calculators and a million other items that use CR2032 or similarly sized or even smaller batteries. How about all those Christmas ornaments that use tiny watch batteries?! Those are probably even more fascinating and cheaply made.


    Did you watch the Australian video - Any of you?

    There's all sorts of items with button cell batteries "dropping" in the background.

    The "news" is about Apple because it's a new product with mass appeal that is being noticed by regulators.
    crowleyanome
  • Reply 16 of 26
    waveparticlewaveparticle Posts: 1,497member
    Very misleading!! I have not been able to open the AirTag myself with my fingers. If parents open the AirTag and leave the button battery for their little ones to get, they are not qualified to be parents!
    edited June 2021 DBSync
  • Reply 17 of 26
    There is a point here. AirTags different from other products because they are on keys that parents often give to kids to play with AND the case can be ‘just’ closed but then easily opened by accident AND there is no screw to hold the battery in like most other button battery products (certainly in the uk). Car keys are mostly pretty tricky to get into, IME.

    Batteries are not primarily a choking hazard - it’s the chemical damage they can cause which can be life altering.

    AirTags are significantly bigger than an item considered a checking hazard, it might not seem much bigger than the battery but it really is.

    So, despite the very exciting view that this is an anti apple story, it’s actually pretty valid. Maybe in future versions it needs to ensure it is fully closed before it chirps, or a warning if it isn’t closed properly. 
  • Reply 18 of 26
    dewmedewme Posts: 5,330member
    Put them in a case that looks like a Brussels sprout - problem solved.
    DBSyncpscooter63FileMakerFellerbikerdudeRadMax
  • Reply 19 of 26
    omasouomasou Posts: 564member
    So anything w/a small battrery should be withdrawn from market. And let's not forget grandpops hearing aid...those batteries are even smaller.
    edited June 2021
  • Reply 20 of 26
    omasouomasou Posts: 564member

    There is a point here. AirTags different from other products because they are on keys that parents often give to kids to play with AND the case can be ‘just’ closed but then easily opened by accident AND there is no screw to hold the battery in like most other button battery products (certainly in the uk). Car keys are mostly pretty tricky to get into, IME.

    Batteries are not primarily a choking hazard - it’s the chemical damage they can cause which can be life altering.

    AirTags are significantly bigger than an item considered a checking hazard, it might not seem much bigger than the battery but it really is.

    So, despite the very exciting view that this is an anti apple story, it’s actually pretty valid. Maybe in future versions it needs to ensure it is fully closed before it chirps, or a warning if it isn’t closed properly. 
    So basically the news is....parents need to be parents and have common sense.
    DnykjpRfC6fnBs
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