Fire safety specialists stress the importance of battery care during holiday air travel and at home.

Grand Rapids

As the holiday travel season approaches, travelers are being advised to carefully consider how they pack devices containing lithium-ion batteries. Experts warn that these batteries, commonly found in phones, laptops, and e-cigarettes, can pose fire hazards if not handled properly, especially when placed in checked luggage. 

Travelers are encouraged to follow airline guidelines for battery transport, avoid storing batteries with metal or other batteries, and only purchase batteries with recognized safety certifications. Proper disposal at approved recycling centers is also recommended to prevent fires at waste facilities. The advice extends to home safety, with a reminder to maintain working smoke alarms.

Caution when traveling with certain batteries

Well, the holiday travel season is almost here again, and if you want yours to start off without a headache, you're going to want to think twice about the type of batteries you're packing. Most of us will jump on a plane with our phone or laptop and not give it a second thought. But maybe we should be, because those little batteries could cause big problems. Anything that could be recharged could be a potential hazard, certainly when it is fully charged. That includes lithium-ion batteries, which under the wrong conditions have the potential to be dangerous. Every October, we mark Fire Prevention Week, and this year's focus is lithium-ion battery safety. That's why Michael McLeer with Escape, Inc. recommends being extra careful to not store anything with a rechargeable battery, like a laptop, phone, or e-cigarette, in your checked luggage. The device could actually overheat. The battery pack could overheat. It could cause a fire. Now, if you can't avoid checking a battery, airlines do have specific instructions on how you can pack them, so make sure you check that out first. That includes making sure the battery does not have contact with other batteries or metal. But no matter where you are going, paying attention to where you got your batteries from is just as important. Making sure that we're buying them from a reputable source, making sure that they are nationally tested laboratory seal of approval, which is like Underwriters Laboratory, UL, FM Global. They meet those stringent standards and testing requirements, so they're not going to be at risk for our consumers. And your battery's final destination is another point of focus. McLeer recommends not throwing away any lithium-ion battery in the regular trash, but instead take it to an approved recycling center or ask your local fire department. Because when these are disposed of and they get to the recycle center, it can cause a very expensive fire. It can be a life safety hazard. And we've had recycle facilities that have actually had significant damage to their equipment when they come in contact with a lithium-ion battery. And all this goes for batteries in the home, too. With the added plea to make sure that you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside and outside every sleeping area. Andy Curtis, Scripps News.

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