Coming up Oct. 5-11 will be National Fire Prevention Week, sponsored by the National Fire Prevention Association.
Its theme for the week is “Charge into Fire Safety,” with emphasis mainly on lithium and lithium-ion battery safety and proper disposal.
This is important since lithium batteries have become a large part of our daily lives. They are all of those rechargeable batteries in our smart phones, laptops, e-readers, kids’ toys and games, smoke alarms, e-bikes, e-scooters, power tools, electric toothbrushes and the many other electronic items we depend on daily, even including some eyeglasses.
So what’s the big deal? While lithium and lithium-ion batteries are long-lasting and dependable, according the NFPA, if they overheat, malfunction or get punctured they can cause fires or even explode. Lithium battery fires are hard to extinguish and they can reignite, even days later. If you put them in your household trash bins, which is illegal, they could ignite in the bin or in the trash pick-up truck.
They can also contaminate water supplies and are harmful for our ecosystems. That’s why proper disposal of lithium batteries is extremely important, and it is the law in California. So how do we dispose of them?
Brea Fire Marshal Nicole Pesqueria says to drop them off for free at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, Staples and Best Buy. Staples also takes single-use batteries and cell phones. Best Buy takes many types of e-waste.
A few months ago, my old Kindle e-reader would not hold a charge. I ordered a new one and wondered how to recycle or dispose of the old one. It was easy when I found out the Amazon Return Center in the Brea Whole Foods market would gladly take it.
You can also use mail-back programs and certified electronics recyclers, even some here in Brea. Many of these are geared to commercial offices. You can find them all and more online at call2Recycle.org.
And when you are replacing those old electronics, the NFPA advises when purchasing a product with a lithium-ion battery to check for the stamp from a nationally recognized testing lab on the product and packaging. That shows the product meets safety standards. If it doesn’t, your new electronic product is at risk of catching fire.
The NFPA’s Charge into Fire Safety program is also promoting the safe charging of electronic devices, and recommends charging on a hard surface, not on the arm of the sofa or under a pillow. And when your electronics are fully charged, unplug them or remove the battery so they don’t overcharge.
More good advice from the NFPA is to only use the cables that came with the product. They also say if you need to replace the charger, buy it from the manufacturer or one approved by the manufacturer.
Charging into Fire Safety also includes taking care with seasonal decorations, such as burning candles and lighting logs in the fireplace. Pesqueria says to keep candles and open flames away from flammable fabrics, especially Halloween costumes. And to never leave candles burning when no one is in the room, even that candle you put in a pumpkin.
Always be sure no candles are still burning when everyone goes to bed or you leave the house.
It is also time to check those strings of indoor and outdoor holiday lights. If you spot a frayed wire or they just look like it is time to replace them, just do it and enjoy a wonderful fall and holiday seasons.
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at daxoncomm@gmail.com.