E-cigarettes or vaping pens are a new fad among youth, but this fad might cause you serious injuries and you even might lose your teeth. Sounds disturbing, right? Unfortunately, it’s real.
Image source: Wikimedia CommonsE-cigarettes: a bomb in your mouth
The lithium-ion batteries powering these e-cigarettes are susceptible to explosions. This can not only knock out the teeth of the smoker but also crack their vertebrae and cause burns. The battery can release huge flames, and the burns caused by them can be so serious that a skin graft is the only treatment, some e-cigarette battery explosion victims said in the lawsuit filed on their behalf, according to Detroit Free Press.
One known victim is Scott Becker (46) of Washington Township, who was carrying a vaping pen in the right back pocket of his pants, when suddenly it exploded, causing burn injuries to his right hip.
“It was like having a firework go off in your pocket,” Becker said.
In another incident earlier this year, an Idaho man named Andrew Hall was vaping when his e-cigarette blew up in his mouth. As a result, he not only lost seven of his teeth but also had his skin scorched. Yahoo reported that he had to be admitted to the ICU, where doctors operated on him to remove chunks of plastic that had seeped into his throat and lips.
Hall also suffered second-degree burns on his face due to this incident. He took to Facebook to post his pictures after the accident and issued a warning to other vapers.
“I Vape (I know, terrible and uncool) but I no longer do and I hope to possible sway those that do to maybe reevaluate or find other methods of smoking,” Hall said.
How to avoid battery explosions
Karla Klas, managing director for injury prevention and community outreach at the Trauma Burn Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, said it isn’t rare to see or hear of such incidents taking place, according to Detroit Free Press. Though there have not been any known deaths, an informal poll counted about 300 recent burn cases that required hospitalization, said Klas.
While the best way to keep safe is to not vape at all, since, the addiction is too strong for some to give it up, they need to take some precautions, according to IEC. First, e-cigarettes should be bought from a facility in the Americas, as they have some safety standards in place.
Second, the brand matters a lot, as most of the vaping pens that exploded were made in China. Third, there is a set of instructions printed on the reverse side of the cigarette that needs to be followed. Fourth, make sure that the atomizer doesn’t overheat, as this can cause explosions. Fifth, since it’s an e-cigarette, it should always be kept away from water.
Sixth, the charger used should be the one that came with the product. Seventh, always make sure that there are no flammable items surrounding the cigarette. Last, switch the charger off once the device has finished charging rather than leaving it on for long durations.
