The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced that its Fire Prevention Week™ campaign, October 5–11, will celebrate “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” The association has released toolkits and fire safety tips on lithium-ion batteries in light of the campaign.

Fire Prevention Week is an annual public awareness campaign, and this year it stresses how important it is to buy, charge, and recycle safely when it comes to lithium-ion batteries.

NFPA’s Three Tips to Charge into Fire Safety:

• Buy only listed products. Look for a safety certification mark when purchasing a product with a lithium battery, for products that meet important safety standards.

   

• Charge devices safely. Always use the cords that came with the product to charge. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Buy new chargers from the manufacturer or ones that the manufacturer has approved. Also, charge devices on a hard surface, and don’t overcharge them. Unplug or remove the battery when it’s fully charged.

   

• Recycle batteries responsibly. Instead of using recycling bins or regular trash, dispose of your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location. Visit call2recycle.org to find a recycling spot near you. 

Learn more about this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign and access videos and additional resources from NFPA.