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Don’t Let Battery Chargers Ignite a Disaster: Top Fire Prevention Tips

such as micromobility devices (scooters and ebikes), plug them directly into the electrical receptacle, not through multiplug adaptors or extension cords.

Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines, including the recommended charge time. This will increase the safety and performance of your battery.

Location, Location, Location: When it comes to safety, where you use a lithium-ion battery device or charger is extremely important.

Because these batteries can pose a significant fire risk, it is crucial that they aren’t located in front of an exit or escape route. If the battery is mishandled or exposed to extreme conditions and a fire erupts, you will need an unobstructed escape route.

Store batteries in a cool, dry environment to maintain their performance and safety. It is recommended to store batteries indoors, away from direct sunlight, excess heat, combustibles and potentially flammable substances.

Follow Maintenance Guidelines:

Some common maintenance tips include:

• Regularly inspecting the battery and charger for visible damage

• Routinely checking the battery’s charge status

• Observing and noting the runtime of your battery (and any changes in this time)

• Disconnecting the battery from the charger once it reaches full capacity.

Resources for Fire Prevention

Lithium-ion battery fires can start in a matter of seconds; it’s important to use them safely. The Code Council’s Building Safety Month website has several resources to help you understand and implement key fire prevention measures and protect your home or business. Access these resources by visiting iccsafe.org.

(StatePoint) According to the National Fire Protection Association, local U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1.35 million fires in 2021 – an average of every 23 seconds. These fires resulted in 3,800 civilian deaths and 14,700 reported civilian injuries, but the devastation didn’t stop there. They also resulted in an estimated $15.9 billion in property damage loss.

Fires can affect not just the health and safety of family, friends and community, but also take a major financial toll on homeowners and businesses. The International Code Council’s 2023 Building Safety Month campaign focuses on general building safety awareness, including how to recognize and practice fire prevention strategies and be aware of potential risks in your home or business.

Potential Dangers of Lithium-Ion Batteries and Chargers

Over the years, lithium-ion batteries and chargers have caused many fires with sometimes devastating consequences. Found within common household products such as electronic toys, small and large appliances, headphones, cellphones, laptops and more, their popularity has grown thanks to their high-energy density and longer lifespan. But with this growth comes the need to learn how to properly handle these products.

Below are actionable steps and fire prevention tips from Beth Tubbs, chief fire protection engineer for the Code Council, to help ensure lithium-ion batteries and chargers are used and stored safely. These are general safety tips, so you will need to refer to each device’s owner manual for specific safety and maintenance instructions.

Buyer Beware: Only purchase an appliance or device with a lithium-ion battery and charger from reputable manufacturers to ensure it’s designed, manufactured, tested and maintained according to applicable safety standards. This is a critical first step in battery fire prevention. Use an Approved Battery Charger, Correctly: When charging a lithium-ion battery, use a proper charger that is manufacturerapproved or listed as acceptable on the device. Lithium-ion batteries are highly sensitive to charging conditions and using an incorrect charger, or using it incorrectly, can result in the battery overcharging. When a battery overcharges, it can overheat, catch fire and, in the worst-case scenario, explode. Never charge lithium-ion batteries when you aren’t home to supervise it. If a potentially dangerous situation does arise, you can act quickly to rectify it by unplugging the battery, using a portable fire extinguisher or calling your local fire department for help. When charging appliances,

Education

Top Tips to Win a College Scholarship

(StatePoint) More than half of American families used scholarships to pay for college last year. From merit-based to artistic-focused, there are a variety of awards available.

High school senior Grace Vaughn of Trinity, Florida, knows how to successfully secure a college scholarship. After winning the $10,000 dress grand prize in Duck brand’s Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest in 2022, Vaughn is sharing helpful tips to increase students’ odds of earning funds for college:

Research, research, research

Search databases and websites to discover award options that may be new to you. Scholarships.com, FastWeb and Bold.org are resources to help narrow down opportunities that match your interests and unique talents. Vaughn also encourages students to leverage social media, where she discovered the Stuck at Prom contest, which challenges teens to create Duck Tape prom creations for a chance to win cash scholarships.

In addition to researching national opportunities, check in with your school counselor and teachers to learn about any local or regional scholarships that are offered through the school or other nearby organizations.

Apply early and often

Federal Student Aid recommends searching for scholarships during the summer between your junior and senior year, but some awards are open to teens as young as 14. Vaughn says entering Stuck at Prom early on in high school gave her an edge on the competition. When she wasn’t selected as a finalist her sophomore year, Vaughn submitted for the contest again as a junior and went on to win the $10,000 dress grand prize.

“When I began working on my entry in 2022, I already knew how to construct the dress from Duck Tape, so I went into the process with confidence,” Vaughn explains. If you have the time and energy, she suggests applying for multiple awards to increase your chances of securing funds for school.

Leverage your creative side

Not all programs are focused on academics and athletics, so flex your creative side to win scholarships that will reward artistic abilities in drawing, painting, music and more. Beginning at an early age, Vaughn excelled at visual arts and design, which is how she knew Stuck at Prom was a perfect fit for her.

“Creative awards programs are a good outlet for students to show off their talents outside of typical schoolwork,” Vaughn says. “Even if you aren’t crafty, scholarship applications could be a chance for you to try something new.”

Make scholarships a priority

Vaughn spent 143 hours crafting her prom dress made from Duck Tape to enter Stuck at Prom. While not all scholarship program submissions will take 143 hours or require making Duck Tape attire, Vaughn says it’s important to block off areas on your calendar so you can balance busy school schedules and extracurricular activities along with applications—ensuring there’s enough time to work on a polished entry, whether it’s creating a piece of art or writing an essay. While applying for scholarships is time consuming, it can make a huge impact when it comes to paying for college. Vaughn notes, “It takes commitment and drive to apply for scholarships, but the results are worth it.”

Reputable manufacturers provide instructions on how to best maintain the performance and safety of their batteries, often found online or in the device or appliance’s maintenance guide.

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