MARION, Iowa (KCRG) – The Marion Fire Department is providing the community with safety guidelines for lithium-ion batteries as part of Fire Prevention Week.
Fire crews are urging residents to practice device safety by following the Buy, Charge, and Recycle Safely method. This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Charge into Fire Safety.”
The Buy, Charge, and Recycle Safety method includes guidelines for the safe handling of lithium-ion batteries:
- Buy only listed products.
- When purchasing items with a lithium-ion battery, always look for a safety certification stamp from a nationally recognized testing lab on the product and its packaging.
- Uncertified products sold online or in stores are a fire risk.
- Charge devices safely.
- Always use the original charging cords that came with your product or a manufacturer approved charger.
- Charge your device on a hard surface. Avoid charging on surfaces like pillows, beds, or couches, as this can pose a fire hazard.
- Prevent overcharging by unplugging your device or removing the battery once it is fully charged.
- Recycle batteries responsibly.
- Never put lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins.
- For proper disposal, take them to a safe battery recycling location. Find one near you at call2recycle.org.
Rechargeable electronics like smartphones, tablets, and toys all run on lithium-ion batteries…