Lithium Ion Battery Safety
 
By Safety Officer Michael Pellegrino
August 11, 2022
 

Did you know you should never charge a device with a lithium battery (including your phone!) on your bed, under your pillow or the couch?

Rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs are found in thousands of every-day devices, from smart phones, laptops, tablets, headphones, and e-cigarettes/vape pens, to scooters, toys, cordless power tools and electric vehicles & Power Walls.

Fires caused by mismatched, faulty, damaged, or abused lithium-ion batteries, powerpacks or chargers have doubled in the past five years, and can result in the loss of your home or business, or worse, the loss of you or a loved one. Li-ion battery failures can present with odd noises, high device temperatures, clouds of toxic gases, and explosive fires.

Westchester Department of Emergency Services has a bunch of great safety tips for these tiny powerhouses and signs one may be a looming home fire hazard.