E-cigarette burns are on the rise, says study
The devices have already been banned from airplanes and Navy aircraft, submarines and ships
The devices have already been banned from airplanes and Navy aircraft, submarines and ships
The devices have already been banned from airplanes and Navy aircraft, submarines and ships
Burns from electronic cigarettes are on the rise, according to a study from Banner - University .
Trauma surgeon Dr. Gary Vercruysse noticed the trend about a year and a half ago after treating three emergency room patients with severe burns.
"They all told me basically the same thing," he explained. "They had an electronic cigarette in their pocket, then they started feeling a lot of heat...and then they couldn't get their pants off or get the device out of their pocket quickly enough."
Vercruysse found little research on the subject after poring through several medical journals. Along with colleagues, he compiled a detailed report about the three patients he treated, concluding that lithium ion battery failure likely caused the injuries.
"These cases are among the first recognizing thermal injuries sustained from the lithium-ion batteries contained in electronic cigarettes, which means there's a need for increased awareness of the safety hazards associated with e-cigarettes," Vercruysse explained.
E-cigarettes have already been banned from airplanes, US Navy vessels and some .
, a Delta Airlines flight was delayed after an e-cigarette ignited inside a passenger's carry-on bag. , the Navy barred the devices from ships, submarines, boats and aircraft.
Eighty percent of e-cigarette explosions take place while the device is charging, .
"I think in general, the public thinks that e-cigarettes are somehow better for you than tobacco cigarettes," Vercruysse said. "But they still deliver nicotine, which isn't good for you, and this particular product has a defect where the battery can malfunction."