Power Up Safely: Teaching Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety in Your Community
Power Up Safely: Teaching Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety in Your Community
Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere — and so are the risks.
Lithium-ion batteries were widely introduced to the public in the 1990s, and their use has since become ubiquitous in consumer electronics. Coupled with their tendency to explode when damaged or improperly stored, the fire risk associated with lithium-ion batteries increases annually as they enter more products and electronics.
If you’re a fire safety educator, first responder, teacher, or community leader, you’ve likely heard about the dangers. But does your community understand how to store, charge, and use these batteries safely? Do people, especially young people, know not to charge devices on their beds, or store a fully charged battery on a window?
Teaching lithium-ion battery safety is no longer optional — it’s essential for creating a fire-ready community.
First, Understand the Basics
Before you can teach others, make sure you and your team understand the “why” behind the warnings.
Lithium-ion batteries can overheat and catch fire if damaged, overcharged, or improperly used.
- The heat from lithium-ion battery failures can reach up to 750º Fahrenheit.
- Damaged batteries will sometimes fill up with gas and swell, leading to the so-called “spicy pillow effect” and an explosion hazard if the swollen battery is punctured.
- These fires release toxic gases and particles, making them dangerous for those nearby.
Fires are often fast and hard to extinguish.
- Unlike fires that need external oxygen, the internal chemical reactions in lithium-ion batteries can produce flammable gases and their own oxygen, allowing them to burn until the fuel source is depleted.
- Even if flames are temporarily put out, breached cells can meet oxygen and reignite. Because the fire can burn at extremely high temperatures, it requires a lot of water to cool the battery completely and prevent re-ignition.
Where you charge and store your lithium-ion batteries has a big impact.
- Never charge overnight, as most fires happen while charging.
- Never charge on the bed, because the heat can’t dissipate properly on the soft surface of a pillow/mattress.
- Never store lithium-ion batteries in direct sunlight, and make sure they’re at around 50% charge to prevent battery degradation.
Customize the Lesson for Every Audience
Teaching a class of 10-year-olds isn’t the same as training senior citizens or apartment landlords.
When teaching children about lithium battery safety, facts alone won’t cut it. To get through to younger audiences, you need color, characters, action, and repetition. You need materials that don’t just inform, but stick with your community.
Teach with Tools that Kids Actually Like
This is where your kid-focused materials make all the difference. At Fire Safety Education, we offer a variety of lithium-ion battery safety materials for kids of all ages.
Activity Books
- Volt the Lithium-Ion Battery Buddy helps kids understand fire safety in a way that’s fun, not frightening
- Easy-to-follow activities and coloring pages that show safe vs. unsafe charging behavior
- Great for classrooms, library programs, and open house events
- Elementary version for younger children, intermediate version for older children
In-depth Pamphlets
- Detailed information that parents can read with their children
- Helps involve parents in reinforcing fire safety at home
- Each pamphlet covers key do’s and don’ts in simple terms and graphics
Stickers, Magnets & Promotional Items
- Custom glow cups and firefighter ducks
- Volt-themed pens, bookmarks, magnets, wristbands, and more!
- Reinforces the message every time they look at their backpack or fridge
These aren’t just giveaways — they’re memory tools. When a child puts a fire safety sticker on their laptop or pencil case, the lesson travels with them.
Why It Works
Children learn best when:
- The message is visual
- The activity is interactive
- The tone is positive (not scary!)
- They can repeat it back in their own words
Our kid-friendly fire safety kits are designed with these learning principles in mind — to help children understand the risks without overwhelming them. And most importantly, to empower them to act safely at home.
What About Older Audiences?
Our Info Towers and Presentation Displays are specifically designed to make lithium battery safety clear, engaging, and accessible for audiences of all ages. With bold visuals, easy-to-read tips, and real-life examples, these displays break down essential safety information into bite-sized, digestible pieces.
Whether you’re teaching young students, speaking to families at a community event, or reaching adults in public spaces like libraries or fire stations, our displays command attention and spark conversation. They’re perfect for open houses, school lobbies, and safety fairs — anywhere people gather and safety messages need to stick.
Power Shouldn’t Come at a Price
Everyone uses lithium-ion batteries, but not everyone knows how to use them safely. As an educator or public safety professional, you’re in a unique position to prevent tragedies before they happen.
Start the conversation. Use our tools. And help your community stay safe, one battery at a time.
