In the last couple of years, the amount of individuals using e-cigarettes has increased considerably. According to Electrical Safety First, over 2 million people in Britain currently use e-cigarettes.
Whilst e-cigarettes are generally safer than regular cigarettes, they can still be dangerous. They can cause fire and injury to users and other people.
If you want to avoid the dangers of e-cigarettes, read on to find out 6 handy safety tips.
1. Avoid leaving charging e-cigarettes unattended
It’s not a good plan to leave charging e-cigarettes unattended. This could be while you’re sleeping, in the bathroom or in the garden. You could easily leave it to charge for too long, which might make it get dangerously hot. An e-cigarette that’s too hot or overcharged is dangerous and could cause fire or injury.
2. Don’t leave your e-cigarette near children
You shouldn’t leave your e-cigarette near children. Like other electrical devices, they can be dangerous in the hands of children, who might damage it or hurt themselves.
3. Follow instructions
All e-cigarettes should come with instructions. These should state clearly what charging voltage and/or batteries the e-cigarette needs. Ensure you follow these instructions. You need to be particularly careful to do this if you buy a charger separately to your e-cigarette. Charging or powering it with the wrong voltage could cause your e-cigarette to get damaged or overheat.
4. Read product warnings
Another tip is to read any warnings that come with your e-cigarette. These will tell you to avoid doing things like over-tightening your e-cigarette’s screws or tampering with certain parts of it. Disregarding manufacturer warnings might lead to damage that causes injury or fire.
5. Don’t keep loose batteries together in short spaces
It’s not a great idea to keep loose batteries in small areas like drawers and pockets, especially if there are metal things like coins and keys in them. Doing this could cause a fire or injury.
6. Ensure your e-cigarette meets safety standards
Before purchasing or using an e-cigarette, ensure that it meets European safety standards. You can tell if it does by whether it has a CE mark on it. E-cigarettes that don’t have this mark are a safety hazard and shouldn’t be used.