Captain’s Corner: Lithium – Ion Battery Safety

The October National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Prevention Week slogan for this year is “CHARGE into Fire Safety – Lithium-ion Batteries in Your Home.” Lithium-Ion batteries are used to power many kinds of devices including smart phones, laptops, e-scooters and e-bikes, e-cigarettes, smoke alarms, toys, cordless vacuum cleaners, power tools, vehicles, and countless other items. These batteries store a large amount of energy in a small amount of space. If not used correctly or damaged these batteries can catch fire or explode.

Please consider the following safety tips:
BUY only listed products
• Purchase and use devices that are listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Many products sold online and in stores may not meet safety standards and could increase the risk of fire.

CHARGE devices safely
• Always use the cables that came with the product to charge it.
• If you need a new charger, buy one from the manufacturer or one that the manufacturer has approved.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Charge your device on a hard surface. Don’t charge it under a pillow, on a bed, or on a couch. This could cause a fire.
• Don’t overcharge your device. Unplug it when it is fully charged.
• Charge big devices like e-bikes, e- scooters and power tools outside.

RECYCLE batteries responsibly
• Don’t throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins because they could start a fire.
• Recycling your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location is the best way to get rid of them.
To prevent fires:
• Put each used battery in a clear plastic bag.
• Tape the positive (+) side of the battery with clear packing tape, electrical tape or duct tape.
• If you need to find a drop off location near you, NFPA recommends visiting “call2recycle.org”

IF THERE IS A FIRE
Lithium-ion battery fires grow fast and are hard to put out. If there is a battery fire, get outside and stay outside. Call 9-1-1 from outside the home.