Tipp of the Week
Online Lithium Batteries Purchases
Hello, Tipp City! Marc the Cop here,
On Sundays, my weekly routine is to take my 84-year-old aunt to breakfast before we attend church. Our favorite restaurant is one that my family used to own, now known as George’s Family Restaurant, located on North Dixie in Harrison Township. My aunt's favorite waitress is Nichole. For the past couple of weeks, she had not been working. When she did return to work, she shared with us that her house had burned down! How tragic. She shared with us that her husband had purchased some lithium batteries online for their Radio-Controlled cars, which they enjoy using. However, they were unaware that not everything online should be used in the home and lacks proper testing.
I called Tipp City Fire Captain Doug Trent to ask him about what we should look for when making purchases online.
Captain Trent directed me to nfpa.org/lithiumionsafety. The National Fire Protection Association offers a program called "Charge into Fire Safety."
Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly found in the many devices and systems we use every day,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “With this greater use, however, we are seeing an uptick in related fires, prompting people to contact us frequently with questions about battery safety. In response, NFPA created the ‘Charge into Fire Safety’ campaign with information that helps answer these questions clearly and thoroughly, in one easy-to-find location.”
NFPA recommends these tips when buying, charging, storing, and using lithium-ion batteries to help prevent fires:
Only purchase and use devices, batteries, and charging equipment that are listed by a nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly.
Use charging equipment that is specifically designed for your device. For safety, use only the charging equipment supplied with your device.
Do not keep charging the device or the device battery after it is fully charged.
Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycling is always the best option. Take the batteries to a battery recycling location or contact your local waste department for disposal instructions.
Stop using your device immediately if it shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or a color change.
Only have device repairs performed by a qualified professional.
Residents are encouraged to learn more about the hazards of lithium-ion batteries. By better understanding how lithium-ion battery fires start, people can take the necessary steps to minimize associated risks and safely use their electronics and other devices powered by these batteries. Learn more about the “Charge into Fire Safety” campaign and download free safety tip sheets at nfpa.org/lithiumionsafety.
Remember the 9 PM routine! The 9 PM routine is a nightly reminder for residents to remove valuables from their vehicles, lock their vehicle doors, secure their residences, turn on exterior lights, and activate all alarms and security systems. That is all for this week! Please be safe and care for one another.
I'll see you in church on Sunday!
Sgt. Marc Basye (Ret.)
Do you have a suggestion for the Tip of the Week? Your input is valuable to us. You can email me at Marcthecop@tippgazette.com!
The opinions and statements in this column are those of the author, who is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency. This column is for entertainment purposes only. Persons referred to may be fictional for comedic purposes only.
