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Parents in Australia Warned to Keep AirTags Away From Children Due to Battery Choking Hazard
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So, more dangerous than guns? Maybe they are, because people seem to want to sprinkle them around hither and yon.
Only sell them to people 18 or 21 and over then and make sure parents know they are obligated to keep them out of the sprouts' hands.
Only sell them to people 18 or 21 and over then and make sure parents know they are obligated to keep them out of the sprouts' hands.
*SOME* parents are used to having to keep things out of the reach of their kids.
Kids die every year through getting their parents guns. Neither beauty or intelligence can be legislatively required, but certain safeguards can be taken to *help* protect kids from irresponsible parents.
And on choking, dogs die every year, choking on golf and ping pong balls, and even dog toys. A friend had a dog choke to death on the end of a Kong Gumma-bone. They tried to save it, but the piece was too far down their trachea to get to, and they couldn't get to their veterinarian in time. It was a horrific tragedy for their family, and their young child, who watched their pet die.
I stopped buying many types of dog toys because they require near constant vigilance to make sure that all pieces chewed off are disposed of.
At some point, it's common sense. Buying a harder to open case/fob/etc for the AirTags seems to be a great idea to help control access to the batteries inside them. But common sense isn't very common.
I wonder if there would be a way to seal a future version of the AirTag, and provide wireless charging to make them 'safer'. Hmm. No perfect solutions, except vigilance, and trying the best to limit access. One complicating factor is that the 'sour' batteries aren't playing well with some devices. Apparently the coating is making connections unreliable. *shrug*
Australian government upset because "we track our citizens and what they area doing, not Apple".
Next some bright spark will ensure all Australian AirTags are superglued closed.
We done seem to care about fossil fuel use, pollution or single use plastics here.
Just dump 'em in landfill when they go flat.
They'll have plenty of company with all the useless novelty plastic toys the local supermarkets give away.
Next some bright spark will ensure all Australian AirTags are superglued closed.
We done seem to care about fossil fuel use, pollution or single use plastics here.
Just dump 'em in landfill when they go flat.
They'll have plenty of company with all the useless novelty plastic toys the local supermarkets give away.
Apple, put a camera and light on it and it will be the cheapest endoscope on the market!
Every manner of devices and toys come with ‘choking hazard’ warnings. From batteries to small parts that’s also why many items have age suggestions like 3+ or 6+. Yes, unsupervised children can get into serious trouble in a heartbeat with just about anything, sharp edges, sharp points on sticks, batteries, rocks, scissors, open doors that lead to a flight of steps. It IS important for parents to be watchful of their offspring. But to single out Apple as the demon here is just stupid. The child in the video in the video you posted died from ingesting a battery from a remote control, not an AirTag.
Im’ fine with warnings. put as many as you like on whatever you like. Ladders are plastered with warnings yet people still break their necks when using them.
Of course. But it's good to have a heads-up (which is really all this is) because some parents might not have considered what would happen if their kid swallows a battery.
For those who don't know, it's pretty horrifying. The acid leaks out and burns a hole in their esophagus. That seems like a bad enough thing to warrant a warning label, yeah? And if it doesn't apply to you, you just blow past it and go on with your life.
I was very surprised when Apple released this obviously unsafe device. The damage from swallowing one of those tiny batteries is often fatal, even if they discover it and remove it surgically 🍸😿
Apple is an easy target, and the target of the month.
Next it will be some other company.
Warning labels aren't very effective, but they are more of a legal move. A 'CYA' move. The first ladder company that takes of the warnings, and someone is hurt/killed, will pay for their bravery. But this is the world we live in. Responsible human beings generally think about the effects of what they do on to other people. I would never allow a child to play with bags/guns/tools/cords/doors/etc, but kids are fast, and someone can do everything they can to 'child safe' their house, and still have exposures to things that could hurt their child. One friend was lamenting about how their budding genius had figured out the cabinet door child locks better than they had. 'We have a Houdini, she can get into the cabinets, and we can't! Child-proof seems to mean parent-proof.' (I have a device that requires a 9-volt battery, and getting it open requires the alignment of the planets, and apparently only happens once every 2 years or so, and several moments filled with blue language! I was looking for an easier way to replace the battery. Getting the door open is so frustrating. I finally broke one of the catches just to make it an even fight!)
But you can't legislate intelligence, and you can't protect people from themselves (which rings loud and clear during this pandemic).
Maybe Apple needs to send everyone who bought their AirTags, a locking case for them, but how many won't use that case. Probably a bunch of people.
The makers of these dangerous products (batteries) should be required to coat them with something that tastes awful so the kid spits it out rather than swallows it.
in related news: Parents in Australia Warned not to Microwave AirTags Due to bzzzzzzzzchzzzzzzzzbz
Kids can get their hands on knives, how do you propose solving that problem so they can't stab themselves or each other? You can't bubble wrap the world because parents leave things laying around. You need to watch your children till they can understand when you tell them not to put batteries in their mouths... or play with knives. After all, it's not like Apple is selling a kids toy and the battery could come out while the child is playing with it. They specifically say this is not for kids or pets.
By the way, the retailer than stopped selling them shortly after they were released is Officeworks, who still sell Tile products, some of which I have found very easy to remove the cover from to access the battery, yet they have no issue making money there. I'm not suggesting they're getting anything from them to only keep one manufacturer on the shelves, but it is an incredible double standard. What's good for the goose...
Australia's Competition and Consumer Commission has been increasingly more vigilant of Apple of late, launching several investigations into the Cupertino tech-giant, and weighing-in on topics such as users having more freedom of control over pre-installed iOS apps.
May was federal budget time in Australia. You can rely on the ACCC to go for high profile cases in the lead up to the budget. Like clockwork.
Prior to Christmas they usually do a run on petrol prices.
May was federal budget time in Australia. You can rely on the ACCC to go for high profile cases in the lead up to the budget. Like clockwork.
Prior to Christmas they usually do a run on petrol prices.
I just tested this and it doesn't resolve the issue.
I tested by taking the back off, then putting it back on *but not properly* - ie it looked like it was on, but it hadn't been twisted all the way (that's the main issue - you can end up in this situation by accident because there's no feedback to tell you it's on properly).
I then put it in the case and tried opening it, and it popped right off quite easily. I suspect a lot of banging about could have opened it too in that state.
I tried the Belkin plastic holder and the Apple leather one.
The point is not about criticizing Apple's, it's about urging Apple to make those relatively easy improvements: 1) make the AirTag cover more secure and dumb proof (which users will only open once a year, doesn't need elegance here); 2) give reasonable warning to parents on the product packaging. Apple is one of the biggest company of the world and certainly aiming to be the most social responsible one.
For one, I know swallowing a battery can be dangerous, but not exactly how dangerous. It's just too sad to read the news about the 2-year-old girl.
For one, I know swallowing a battery can be dangerous, but not exactly how dangerous. It's just too sad to read the news about the 2-year-old girl.
In other news:
Children open cabinet doors and access the contents, let's make the furniture makers re-design how they open
Children spray chemicals in their eyes, let's redesign the spray bottles so kids can't operate them
Children can open and fall into toilets and drown, let's force all toilets to be redesigned
Kids can fall down stairs and break body parts, let's force home makers to find another way to get up and down floors.
Kids can poke their eye out with a pencil, pen, umbrella tip, lipstick, keys...
I don't have numbers, but I'd guess the odds of a child swallowing a battery from an AirTag are pretty low in the list of risk factors in their environment. Not saying it's not a concern, just that of all the things to worry about this is not one of then right now. certainly not worth an official government statement. I'd hazard a guess this is one of those "Let's mention Apple in our headline to get some attention for our cause" type things.
Children open cabinet doors and access the contents, let's make the furniture makers re-design how they open
Children spray chemicals in their eyes, let's redesign the spray bottles so kids can't operate them
Children can open and fall into toilets and drown, let's force all toilets to be redesigned
Kids can fall down stairs and break body parts, let's force home makers to find another way to get up and down floors.
Kids can poke their eye out with a pencil, pen, umbrella tip, lipstick, keys...
I don't have numbers, but I'd guess the odds of a child swallowing a battery from an AirTag are pretty low in the list of risk factors in their environment. Not saying it's not a concern, just that of all the things to worry about this is not one of then right now. certainly not worth an official government statement. I'd hazard a guess this is one of those "Let's mention Apple in our headline to get some attention for our cause" type things.
They worry about the battery - but ignore the fact that kids can just eat the airtag. WTF?
Oh, they should also be sure to ensure that dirt and rocks are safely secured to the ground. Wouldn't want kids to accidentally ingest those. And don't get them started on the dangers of glassware and ceramics in the home; kids could break one and ingest the pieces, leading to lacerations and death.
Oh, they should also be sure to ensure that dirt and rocks are safely secured to the ground. Wouldn't want kids to accidentally ingest those. And don't get them started on the dangers of glassware and ceramics in the home; kids could break one and ingest the pieces, leading to lacerations and death.
