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“Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home,”

is the Theme of Fire Prevention Week

 

          This year, National Fire Prevention Week is October 5^th through the 11th.  The theme this year is Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.  “Lithium-Ion batteries have become commonplace in everyday life,” states the Public Education Coordinator Alan Zygmunt of the Connecticut Fire Academy, “from cellphones, power tools, bikes, and vehicles people use these devices every day.”  This year the theme will concentrate on three major safety messages to ensure that these items do not cause a fire hazard in our homes: 

Buy only listed products. When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery look for a safety certification mark such as UL, ETL, or CSA. This means it meets important safety standards.

Charge devices safely. Always use the cords that came with the product to charge. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Buy new chargers from the manufacturer or one that the manufacturer has approved. Charge your device on a hard surface. Don’t overcharge your device. Unplug it or remove the battery when it’s fully charged. 

Recycle batteries responsibly. Don’t throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins because they could start a fire. Recycle your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location. Visit call2recycle.org to find a recycling spot near you. 

 

There is a lot of great information about these topics on the National Fire Protection Association’s website:  https://www.nfpa.org/events/fire-prevention-week  Lithium Ion batteries get hot during normal use and when recharging so following these safety rules can help prevent fires from happening.

 

The Connecticut Fire Academy is the teaching arm of the Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.  Part of their mission is educating the public in fire and burn prevention.