Due to an escalating number of high-profile incidents, the latest of which is a death in Liverpool, UK, it has become clear that the following warning needs to be promoted as widely as possible:
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Hospitals and Carers: Ecigs and Oxygen Use
Ecigs must not be charged in a room in which oxygen is available.
ecig use by elderly and confused patients must be monitored carefully if oxygen is in use.
Incidents have occurred in which fires have taken place as a result of battery failures while on charge, or user error by a confused patient. When oxygen is present, the incident may become far more serious.
ecig batteries must not be charged in a room where oxygen is in use, and this may mean restricting charging to rooms where there is no oxygen supply, in order to ensure safety.
Rarely, batteries of the eGo type may suffer fires while on charge, and this appears to have contributed to a death in a case where oxygen was in use in Liverpool, England, as the fire became fiercer.
References:
Liverpool City Fire Chief reports nine ecig fires dealt with so far, including one death:
BBC News - Man killed as e-cigarette 'explodes', Merseyside fire service says
Local news report:
Latest News
National news:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...use-where-elderly-man-found-dead-9657142.html
Note: from the full details of these various reports, it can be seen that the cause of death is not known at this time. The body was not found in the room where the fire took place. However, a connection seems likely; and of course it will be reported as an 'ecig death'.
The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) is now getting involved with ecig advice, and Electrical Safety First ( News and Campaigns | Electrical Safety First ) gives tips for safely charging your ecig - see:
Let's make the new e-cigarette warning loud and clear - ITV News
ECF post:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ws-vaping-needs-right-now-2.html#post13865804
ECF thread:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...807-not-sort-news-vaping-needs-right-now.html
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.../stockport-gran-engulfed-flames-after-6985434
Note: it was later reported that the elderly patient had probably caused the blaze by attempting to light the ecig with a cigarette lighter that was found at the scene.
http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/LatestNewsReleases_15041420_explodingecigcausesfire.asp
Note: see 75 cent charger on top connector that failed causing overcharge / failed to prevent overcharging.
____________________________________
Hospitals and Carers: Ecigs and Oxygen Use
Ecigs must not be charged in a room in which oxygen is available.
ecig use by elderly and confused patients must be monitored carefully if oxygen is in use.
Incidents have occurred in which fires have taken place as a result of battery failures while on charge, or user error by a confused patient. When oxygen is present, the incident may become far more serious.
ecig batteries must not be charged in a room where oxygen is in use, and this may mean restricting charging to rooms where there is no oxygen supply, in order to ensure safety.
Rarely, batteries of the eGo type may suffer fires while on charge, and this appears to have contributed to a death in a case where oxygen was in use in Liverpool, England, as the fire became fiercer.
- Don't allow ecig recharging where oxygen is in use, or where it is present and may become involved in a fire.
- Bedside tables where an ecig may be recharged are often close to the oxygen supply. This means recharging should not take place there even if oxygen is not in use - a battery fire could escalate.
- Ecig use with oxygen use should be monitored - there is no evidence of danger so far except for the confused, or in recharging, but oversight can be usefully kept. Don't allow recharging of the ecig batteries.
- Check elderly or confused patients using an ecig: a case occurred where a fire was started by a patient trying to light an ecig with a cigarette lighter while receiving oxygen. Remove cigarettes and lighters from rooms where a confused patient may use an ecig.
____________________________________
References:
Liverpool City Fire Chief reports nine ecig fires dealt with so far, including one death:
BBC News - Man killed as e-cigarette 'explodes', Merseyside fire service says
Local news report:
Latest News
National news:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...use-where-elderly-man-found-dead-9657142.html
Note: from the full details of these various reports, it can be seen that the cause of death is not known at this time. The body was not found in the room where the fire took place. However, a connection seems likely; and of course it will be reported as an 'ecig death'.
The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) is now getting involved with ecig advice, and Electrical Safety First ( News and Campaigns | Electrical Safety First ) gives tips for safely charging your ecig - see:
Let's make the new e-cigarette warning loud and clear - ITV News
ECF post:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ws-vaping-needs-right-now-2.html#post13865804
ECF thread:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...807-not-sort-news-vaping-needs-right-now.html
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.../stockport-gran-engulfed-flames-after-6985434
Note: it was later reported that the elderly patient had probably caused the blaze by attempting to light the ecig with a cigarette lighter that was found at the scene.
http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/LatestNewsReleases_15041420_explodingecigcausesfire.asp
Note: see 75 cent charger on top connector that failed causing overcharge / failed to prevent overcharging.
