Fire Prevention Month Tips: Lithium-Ion Safety

Your phone, laptop, or even your kids' outdoor toys could start a fire in your home if their batteries aren't handled safely. This October, Watsonville Fire is raising awareness about lithium-ion battery safety and sharing practical tips to keep your home and family protected.

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere, powering our everyday devices. But mishandling them can be dangerous. The good news is that small changes can prevent fires and keep your loved ones safe.

Protecting Children from Button Batteries
One of the most overlooked risks comes from tiny button batteries, often found in toys, remotes, and hearing aids. If swallowed, these small batteries can cause serious internal injuries. To demonstrate, we placed a button battery on a piece of chicken, and it began burning tissue almost immediately. Imagine what it could do inside a child's body. To reduce the risk, keep these batteries out of reach, tape battery compartments shut, and always supervise children around devices that use them. If a child swallows a battery, call 911 immediately.

Charging Devices Safely
Beyond button batteries, charging lithium-ion batteries safely is another critical step in preventing fires. Always charge devices on a hard, flat surface using the correct cord. Keep them away from exits and walkways, and unplug them once fully charged. These small precautions can go a long way in keeping your home and family safe.

Understanding Vape Battery Risks
Lithium-ion batteries aren't just in electronics; they're also in vapes. These batteries can overheat, catch fire, or even explode. To reduce the risk, only use approved chargers and devices, avoid modifying them, and never carry vapes in pockets with coins or keys. Even during normal use, battery failure can happen without warning, so stay alert.

Safe Disposal Matters
Finally, how you get rid of batteries is just as important as how you use them. Never throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Instead, recycle them at approved drop-off locations, like the City of Watsonville Waste & Recycling Drop-Off Center at 320 Harvest Drive.

Putting It All Together
Every step matters, from protecting kids from button batteries to safely charging devices, handling vapes carefully, and recycling batteries properly. By practicing these safety habits, you're helping protect your home, family, and community.

Follow Watsonville Fire on its social media channels for more year-round safety tips, and keep your household safe.