Fire Prevention Week: Safety tips when using, discarding lithium-ion batteries

JACKSON, Tenn. — It’s officially Fire Prevention Week and we have some information about lithium-ion batteries.

It’s important to only buy products that are nationally recognized. There will be a stamp from a testing lab on the packaging and product.

You also are not supposed to throw them in the trash or regular recycling bins. Putting them in a designated battery recycling bin is the most affective why to dispose of them.

Kelly Ransdell, with the national fire protection association, tells us what to look out for when charging them.

“If it ever has a weird electrical sweet smell, if it changes colors or actually changes shapes, or if it gets really really hot, that should be a sign that something is wrong and you want to quit charging,” said Ransdell.

Experts also recommend that you charge the device on a hard surface, and you should unplug the device immediately when it’s fully charged.

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