AirTag Removable Battery Sparks Child Safety Concerns

[WitchDrAsh2]

Some interesting points. What is your argument against why concerned parents should not just put their tags in closed cases?

You could say, they can't control the cases other people use that might visit their homes. Shrugs. At some point, if someone comes in with an Airtag hanging off their bag such that a child can get to it, maybe the parent could also see it and make sure its out of reach?

Your numbers argument regarding exposure falls apart when you consider that yes, some people will get a lot, but a lot more people will get none, but almost every house has at least one device (remote) with this style battery without the protection measures you mention.

Finally, neither you nor I are design engineers. It is easy to say things like how simple it would have been for apple to incorporate a screw or what not, but I dont think its really that easy to implement in this design. Judging from the tear down, there are physical size constraint limits. So make it bigger you say. There would be safety downsides of that as well.

It's just not a perfect world. It is easier to say how others should make it perfect for us, apparently harder for us to take personal responsibility.

Yes most houses probably have 1 or 2 devices that have these batteries, they may or may not have screw covers, the manufacturers vary, certainly here in the UK its exceptionally unusual to simply have devices that aren't screwed down.

We were read the riot act on both occasions at hospital (2 different hospitals) when we were taking our kids home after they'd been born, the first was "no leaving the hospital without showing us your car seat", the second was "don't let your child near watch batteries", there is a major concern about them here, and the damage they can cause.

But what you said fit perfectly with my argument Apple generated the design from beginning to end and they chose not to implement a system that means a non-damaged device is inaccessible to anyone without some sort of tool, instead they chose a system that has known weaknesses for reasons that I can only presume it's because it fits with the design they were going for, they could have made the device a mm or 2 bigger, adjusted the components around to make room for a locking mechanism, they chose against it, it was a conscious design choice, and that in my eyes makes it worse. They purposefully decided that they wanted the current shape over a marginally different one (thicker, bigger, whatever) that would have made the device unquestionably safer.

Again the risks are low, if we were having 1000s of kids each year dying from these batteries they'd be banned, they don't kill many each year, they cause a lot of hospitalisations though, and it is the insidious way they can cause significant damage before the person who's swallowed it notices, or even if they do in the time it takes them to get to hospital, the device located and removed it can have caused severe harm.

The fact that the health system here and many hospitals have pages dedicated to this specific battery shows the concern, and I think it's why I find it hard to understand that people are just shrugging their shoulders. I've even had people say it's not a product aimed at me, i.e. someone with small kids, when I just see it as an absence of responsible design from Apple, they made a product that could have been 100% safe, but it's now more like 98% safe just so it looked a bit more like the original designer pictured in his head, and that feels wrong to me.

 

[Schranke]

And again, for the hard of understanding, who says it’s my airtag?

As a parent I don’t ever have to ever heard of an airtag, let alone understand what it is, let alone have purchased one, before my child happens to find somebody else’s. You know, that they’ve lost.

If you child is in a position to find another persons Airtag you SHOULD be keeping an eye on the kid. Because you will be outside. And even if you are at a friends you should keep an eye on your kid as your friends place is most likely not kid safe unless they have a kid around that age as well.

And the part I put in bold is really important, you kid should not be able to get a hand on something you don't know and what is without you taking it from them ASAP.
Heck you might as well ask those who makes dishwasher tablet to make each individual tablet sealed child proof. I could have dropped one on my way home, and your kid could mistake it for candy (some of those tablets smells nice) on the side of the road and eat it. No way that is me nor the manufacturer fault. In most cases it will not be the parents fault either. But its scary how neglectful parents can be, I see it constantly in my city (Copenhagen) with mothers and fathers buried in their phone instead of keeping an eye out for their child and interacting with it. I see them almost have their baby carrier's out on the crosswalk at busy roads and a 1000 of other things...

 

[innovationwho]

Or just don’t buy an AirTag until Apple have modified the design.

You don’t think Apple took children into thought of their product design? Ok. Also, apparently none of you have researched any batteries. Duracell has purposely put the same coating that’s on the Nintendo switch games onto this circular batteries. If your child is old enough to know how to open the AirTag. Your child is old enough to be taught by you breeders that a battery is not food. So, your response is irrelevant.

 

[WitchDrAsh2]

You don’t think Apple took children into thought of their product design? Ok. Also, apparently none of you have researched any batteries. Duracell has purposely put the same coating that’s on the Nintendo switch games onto this circular batteries. If your child is old enough to know how to open the AirTag. Your child is old enough to be taught by you breeders that a battery is not food. So, your response is irrelevant.

I have under-estimated both my children several times and been very surprised at what they can and can't do at any specific age, I would not presume that being able to open a device and being able to understand it's dangers are in anyway connected.

 

[icerabbit]

I ...

Maybe step away from the keyboard and get some fresh air. It is like 20% of the comments in this thread are yours, all pointing fingers at people who are fine with the product as designed.

We get it. No need to say it 100 times that you want a safety screw, that you worry that a lost item will end up in a child's hand, ...

Just because somebody may have actually fiddled with their AirTag and didn't close it properly, and then it opened up, OMG viral video ! ... doesn't mean it is actually easy to open for an adult or toddler.

I'm pretty sure Apple did a decent amount of reading regulations and testing.
If people are worried about AirTags and little kids: don't buy AirTags.
If those people do want to buy them because they feel they need them: put a case around it that a toddler can't open.
If you think your young kid may find something that they shouldn't be able to put their hands on: supervise them!
Once they're not in the youngest danger years: educate them.

 

[portland-dude]

Apple just supports natural selection is all.

 

[WitchDrAsh2]

If you child is in a position to find another persons Airtag you SHOULD be keeping an eye on the kid. Because you will be outside. And even if you are at a friends you should keep an eye on your kid as your friends place is most likely not kid safe unless they have a kid around that age as well.

And the part I put in bold is really important, you kid should not be able to get a hand on something you don't know and what is without you taking it from them ASAP.
Heck you might as well ask those who makes dishwasher tablet to make each individual tablet sealed child proof. I could have dropped one on my way home, and your kid could mistake it for candy (some of those tablets smells nice) on the side of the road and eat it. No way that is me nor the manufacturer fault. In most cases it will not be the parents fault either. But its scary how neglectful parents can be, I see it constantly in my city (Copenhagen) with mothers and fathers buried in their phone instead of keeping an eye out for their child and interacting with it. I see them almost have their baby carrier's out on the crosswalt at busy roads and a 1000 of other things...

All you say is true, and I can't control what other people do, I regret Apple not making this device 100% safe as they've added to the list of stuff that its possibly dangerous to kids when it wasn't necessary.

So I do the only thing I can do and not purchase them, either until my youngest is definitely old enough to not put things in her mouth that she shouldn't, or the design changes that I'm happy that should she managed to get her hands on one I'm not worried about it.

I don't think Apple have broken any laws in this situation, I just feel they made a poor design decision, when another better one was available, but that's life.

 

[rp100]

Unfortunately, kids put all sorts of stuff in their mouths. After you’ve pulled the 100th random thing from his or her mouth (and was promptly yelled at for being an unfair protector!) you stop caring about whose logo is on the object. Then the kids learn to climb, open locks, and escape the house. At this point, hopefully, you realize that the scope of the problem is far larger than a loose-fitting Airtag cap.

The “news” was just manufactured clickbait…

 

[Dented]

If you child is in a position to find another persons Airtag you SHOULD be keeping an eye on the kid. Because you will be outside. And even if you are at a friends you should keep an eye on your kid as your friends place is most likely not kid safe unless they have a kid around that age as well.

Until that friend comes to my house, accidentally drops their keys down the back of my sofa (because they lose them often enough to invest in airtags after all), and leaves. I still don’t know what an airtag is let alone that there’s one in my house, which I’ve childproofed as much as possible. I’ve no reason to suspect my child is going to find anything harmful in my lounge. My guard is down.

And the part I put in bold is really important, you kid should not be able to get a hand on something you don't know and what is without you taking it from them ASAP.
Heck you might as well ask those who makes dishwasher tablet to make each individual tablet sealed child proof. I could have dropped one on my way home, and your kid could mistake it for candy (some of those tablets smells nice) on the side of the road and eat it. No way that is me nor the manufacturer fault. In most cases it will not be the parents fault either. But its scary how neglectful parents can be, I see it constantly in my city (Copenhagen) with mothers and fathers buried in their phone instead of keeping an eye out for their child and interacting with it. I see them almost have their baby carrier's out on the crosswalt at busy roads and a 1000 of other things...

It’s laughable seeing those without kids explain parenting to the rest of us. Just to be clear I’m not worried about my kids, they’re 8 and 10, Airtags aren’t going to harm my family. But I know enough and remember enough about younger children and the fallibility of EVERY parent to know that won’t be true of everyone out there.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

But the whole point is that this is not toys and not intended to be in the hands of small children. You can't simply apply rules from one regulation area to another. By that standart the battery compartment on car keys should be screwed shut as some parents hand a set of keys to a kid to entertain/distract them.

Even the EU isn't so rule crazy that we regulate everything with the thought that small children might get their hands on it...

I can’t speak for all types of car keys but I have never owned a car where the key can be opened easily. It usually requires a screwdriver or prising tool which meets the standard. If AirTags are exempt from this sort I’d ruling then Apple shouldn’t really market them to be used on items that children regularly come into contact with. Of course parents should be vigilant like most probably are, but I think anything with a battery should be difficult to get into to some degree. Button batteries are the worst for child fatalities as they are easy to ingest and have killed quite a few children in recent years in the UK. I’m all for manufacturers considering this in the design stage.

 

[Fatboy71]

Well how about been a parent and supervising your kids and or don't give your kids AirTags to play with.
FFS take responsibility for your kids instead of looking for someone else to blame.

 

[Shirasaki]

It’s simple. Don’t have children. They are parasites and ruin everything. You don’t have to have children.

I mean, we already have way too many people. 8 billion.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

It’s laughable seeing those without kids explain parenting to the rest of us. Just to be clear I’m not worried about my kids, they’re 8 and 10, Airtags aren’t going to harm my family. But I know enough and remember enough about younger children and the fallibility of EVERY parent to know that won’t be true of everyone out there.

Indeed lol. I always find it amusing when I see people online who evidently have no experience of children make statements like ‘how about you be a parent and supervise your kids’ or ‘don’t let your kids have things they shouldn’t’ .

Oh they are in for a huge surprise and the child expert bravado soon fades when they realise even they will fail to supervise their own offspring 100% of the time. We all make mistakes, even Apple device lovers on Mac rumours who once held a relatives child at a party but know it all lol. Their time will come.

 

[iMacPad]

so take all remote controls off the shelves too! children will find those delicious batteries everywhere.

 

[iBreatheApple]

This is ridiculous. Get a grip.

 

[icerabbit]

Until that friend comes to my house, accidentally drops their keys down the back of my sofa (because they lose them often enough to invest in airtags after all), and leaves. I still don’t know what an airtag is let alone that there’s one in my house, which I’ve childproofed as much as possible. I’ve no reason to suspect my child is going to find anything harmful in my lounge. My guard is down.

It’s laughable seeing those without kids explain parenting to the rest of us. Just to be clear I’m not worried about my kids, they’re 8 and 10, Airtags aren’t going to harm my family. But I know enough and remember enough about younger children and the fallibility of EVERY parent to know that won’t be true of everyone out there.

Your friend comes to your house and leaves their keys with an Airtag in your sofa ... and the kids will find them before he notices he is missing his keys, you know, because he needs them for his car, scooter, bike, ... or wouldn't think they're missing until he's on public transport, or when he's at his home or apartment 30-60 min later.

Totally legit!


If we don't have the feature yet, in the next couple updates, based on user feedback, we will be able to set proximity alerts when an item is no longer on/near you; outside of your home.

 

[Solomani]

Bunch of whiners. First they complain and threaten moronic class-action suits against Apple for NOT making it easy enough for end-user to replace internal parts (e.g. batteries) in numerous Apple products. Then now that Apple releases AirTags with user-replaceable batteries.... they crybaby about child safety.

 

[Xian Zhu Xuande]

Good grief. Maybe start by not letting them eat the whole Airtag, including the battery? Without even touching up on how challenging it would be for the kiddo to remove the battery.

And if they're trying to track their kiddos with the Airtag, just be sure to use plenty of extra duct tape when attaching it to them.

 

[Octopuss]

I don't know, but maybe don't give an electrical device to your kids? Maybe supervise them? Maybe take some responsibility...

What?? Accept responsibility for kids? Are you out of your mind?????

 

[Haust]

I said it in another thread, it's just a matter of time before a kid chokes to death on an airtag. It's not a question of if, it's when. Indeed, and the removeable battery is another choking hazard. Better not let toddlers play with them or handle them. They will put them in their mouths and the slick nature of the metal will make it super easy to slide down the throat and get logged. Apple needs to redesign it into the donut shape so that there is a hole much like Bic pens did with their caps. Laugh if you want and blame the parents all you want, but it's going to happen.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Well how about been a parent and supervising your kids and or don't give your kids AirTags to play with.
FFS take responsibility for your kids instead of looking for someone else to blame.

Got any kids yourself then?

 

[SFjohn]

It’s funny, Walgreens Pharmacy in the US has the same method for child protection of meds. Tops need to be to be pushed down & screwed. Same thing with AirTags… hmmm

 

[mattdeezy]

My friends kid almost died from swallowing a button battery. Many kids have actually died from swallowing button batteries. They are really dangerous. Thats why Dyson heater remotes, pokemon go buttons and many other devices that use these batteries have a small screw that fixes the cover in place.

Im not sure how easy it is to open an airtag yet as mine are just shipping so I will reserve judgement on their design however if they are easily opened, apple has made a dangerous mistake.

The suggestion from many on here that say "supervise your children" clearly don't have kids.

 

[mattdeezy]

To be fair it would be pretty easy to swallow the whole thing so getting upset about the battery seems a little alarmist. Kids need supervision.

Swallowing the whole thing would be safer than swallowing the battery. When a button cell is swallowed it burns a hole in the oesophagus or stomach and is usually fatal.

 

[PsykX]

I suggest making them bigger and using AA batteries, they are much harder for kids to swallow!

AA batteries are still swallowable.
I'd go straight for D batteries !