Nova Scotia Power files incident report with Health Canada over LED lights

HALIFAX – A children’s injury prevention program at the IWK said more consideration should have been given to the LED lights handed out at the Parade of Lights that were then recalled due to a potential choking hazard.

Nova Scotia Power, NSP, handed out approximately 4,700 LED lights at the parade in downtown Halifax Saturday night. Then Sunday morning, NSP issued a warning about the safety of the products after two children were taken to the IWK after swallowing batteries in the lights.

Late Monday afternoon, the company said it will be issuing a recall of the lights. More details will be provided Tuesday but the recall includes an incentive for customers to return the lights to Nova Scotia Power.

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There is a small compartment that holds the batteries but it can easily be opened and the batteries can fall out.

“It’s great they were advocating for pedestrian safety so to speak,” said Chantal Walsh, a health promotions specialist at Child Safety Link.

“However, it often can be something that can be overlooked. The size of the button battery itself can be something that isn’t considered or isn’t thought of when it’s included in something like that, especially the smaller the hands involved.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "However, it often can be something that can be overlooked. The size of the button battery itself can be something that isn't considered or isn't thought of when it's included in something like that, especially the smaller the hands involved."

There have been no further reports of children ingesting the batteries, but Walsh said parents need to be vigilant about the lights.

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“They’re very shiny. They’ll attract children of all ages but children under three in particular,” Walsh said.

“A lot of things are going in their mouths. They’ll want to ingest that and unfortunately it can be very dangerous and sometimes fatal. If swallowed and ingested, [they] have been known to cause some serious poisoning but also burning [and internal damage] as well.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "A lot of things are going in their mouths. They'll want to ingest that and unfortunately it can be very dangerous and sometimes fatal. If swallowed and ingested, [they] have been known to cause some serious poisoning but also burning [and internal damage] as well."

Walsh said parents should be suspicious of any items that are smaller than the width of a toilet paper roll since they can be serious choking hazards for children. She also recommends inspecting any new toy given to a child.

Parent surprised at warning over light

Rayna Preston and her two sons were given the lights during the parade but Preston said she immediately threw them away after the festivities.

“Generally because we haven’t researched it or bought it ourselves…we’re not really sure about the safety of it,” she said.

Preston said she acted in an abundance of caution but adds she is surprised the safety of the lights was overlooked.

“I was surprised there wasn’t more research. It was a kids event. Obviously something got missed and overlooked,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I was surprised there wasn't more research. It was a kids event. Obviously something got missed and overlooked," she said.

“They probably could have made a better choice.”

Nova Scotia Power mum with the media

Despite repeated requests for comment, a spokesperson for Nova Scotia Power said no on-camera interviews would be granted.

When pressed for more specifics about how the safety of the products was missed, a spokesperson directed Global News to the original warning issued over the lights’ safety and declined to answer the questions.

Spokesperson Beverley Ware said the company has filed an incident report with Health Canada’s Consumer Products Safety Directorate.

Ware said Nova Scotia Power purchased the lights from Headline Promotional Products. Calls to that company were not immediately returned.