E Cigarette Explosions are on the Rise
Written by - Rubenstein Law Attorney, Kelly McCallum Millions of people worldwide use e-cigarettes. First introduced into the market back in 2007, since then they have been gaining in popularity. With sales in the United States alone estimated to be a $1.5 billion yearly market and expected to grow, they have become increasingly popular primarily with people who are trying to be more health conscious and looking to cut back or quit their use of regular cigarettes altogether. But with the use of e-cigarettes often related to the desire to lead a healthier question, it begs the question, “How safe are these new electronic devices?” There are three main pieces that make an e-cig functional – the cartridge or tank, the heating element, and the battery. Reports are constantly surfacing of e-cigarettes exploding or catching fire and most incidences of e-cigarette explosions occur when charging is taking place. While injuries are less common than incidences of a fire spreading, with faulty batteries and improper use, some e-cigarettes have exploded in user’s hands, pockets and mouth, resulting in burns and topical injuries. Although you can’t always protect yourself from faulty devices, whether they be e-cigarettes, cell phones, or laptops, you can take a few simple precautions to lower your risk of your e-cigarette ending in fiery disaster. 1) Always know your brand and avoid counterfeits. Buy from a reputable, read reviews and ask those in the know for advice if you need to. If in doubt, just stick with an American brand. The manufacturing standards in the USA are superior to China, where the majority of these devices come from, making your Made in the US items safer in general and less likely to malfunction. 2) Only charge with the charger and power adapter that comes with the battery. 3) Do not plug into computers, or other USB-capable devices. 4) Find a device that has a battery you remove from the atomizer to charge, these appear to be safer than the models that stay attached when charging. 5) Never overcharge your battery. Do not leave it plugged in unattended, when you are asleep or away from the home. If you or someone you love has been hurt or injured in an accident or by a defective product, please call Rubenstein Law at 1-800-FL-LEGAL. We have offices in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Broward and West Palm Beach. Photo credit: TangoPango via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC
