BBC Website - "E-cigarette safety alert issued after spate of fires"

[ukvaper]

"A nationwide alert has been issued warning of the dangers of fires caused by exploding e-cigarette chargers."

Above is the opening line of an article on the BBC website. It again implies that e-cigs (chargers) are dangerous but the story then goes on to say that the main cause is people using cheap or incorrect chargers!!

So it would seem that human error is the cause and NOT e-cig chargers. How about stating that in the title instaed of giving a false impression!

 

[knome]

E-cigarette safety alert issued after spate of fires - BBC News

Warning issued over e-cigarette chargers | Irish Examiner

 

[knome]

How about stating that in the title instaed of giving a false impression!

Title is fine. We've seen worse.

 

[angelfiremods]

I think it is fine for the BBC to publish this sort of information as it makes people aware of an issue that could prevent harm by making people think, however, what does frustrate me is the same applies to all other electronic devices with a battery, the title could have easily said a broader message 'Electronic device saftey alert issued after spate of fires' - I am sure the number of fires would have been much bigger! We all know E-Cigs get a rough time and are targeted by media over and above other electronic devices.

As an example of how organisations are ill educted, when we opened up a business account with Royal Mail it seemed that they did not really understand the rules of postage for an E-Cig (obviously considering safety) claiming initially that we could not send a E-Cig with an installed battery. Obviously we asked them how they ship the millions of mobile phones, laptops and other devices... the RM guy went off to ask his colleagues about the comparison and returned with a changed mind stating that they could be sent through the postal service... this is just an example of how people are initially prejudice towards E-Cigs unless they are educated and informed.

 

[maustin42]

I think it is fine for the BBC to publish this sort of information as it makes people aware of an issue that could prevent harm by making people think, however, what does frustrate me is the same applies to all other electronic devices with a battery, the title could have easily said a broader message 'Electronic device saftey alert issued after spate of fires' - I am sure the number of fires would have been much bigger! We all know E-Cigs get a rough time and are targeted by media over and above other electronic devices.

As an example of how organisations are ill educted, when we opened up a business account with Royal Mail it seemed that they did not really understand the rules of postage for an E-Cig (obviously considering safety) claiming initially that we could not send a E-Cig with an installed battery. Obviously we asked them how they ship the millions of mobile phones, laptops and other devices... the RM guy went off to ask his colleagues about the comparison and returned with a changed mind stating that they could be sent through the postal service... this is just an example of how people are initially prejudice towards E-Cigs unless they are educated and informed.

and where are they getting this prejudice from? The very news websites that are exclusively pointly the finger of blame at e-cigs. I volunteer for the British Red Cross's Fire and Emergency Support service and we go out and support the people who's houses have just burnt down and some of them were caused by battery chargers of all sorts, not once have I been to one caused by an e-cig charger. Having said this anything that can be done to raise awareness of the risks of cutting corners when it comes to charging batteries has to be good for peoples welfare.

 

[philTBA]

Journos as a whole, will never let the truth get in the way of a good story/headline.
They've just had this on the news while I was typing.. In fairness, they did say it was mainly due to cheap/incomparable equipment.

God help the radio modellers if it ever gets out about LiPos goin bad and exploding when on charge, while in use in cars/boats/planes/quads, while sitting quietly in boxes ! It'll be all over for them. Or worse, if a bulk shipment of LiPos go bad in transit, explode, and bring the plane down killing the crew !

 

[Nathan]

Well their probably bored of mentioning how many home fires are caused by cigarettes

 

[cheersm8]

You just have to love juggling figures!
Using the available information and inputting into a risk calculator I have found that there is a 0.05 % chance of me having to deal with a fire caused by a defective or misused charger over the next ten years. In the same 10 years, the "risk calculator" after inputting the relative details tells me that I have an 8.1 % chance of a heart attack.
My future is doomed! During the next ten years, it's possible that I may have a heart attack, and a fire, at the exactly same time thus posing the dilemma, 999 for an ambulance, or 999 for the fire?

Still, I'm better off than they average man of my age, their heart attack risk over the next ten years is 8.7 % and the risk of fire for folks using "sunday market" chargers is 2.4% !!

 

[skinku]

I wish I had a risk calculator.
It could stop me doing anything with justification.
Perfect.

 

[Mawsley]

BBC Website - "E-cigarette safety alert issued after spate of fires"

The news was awash with phones and laptops self-igniting a while back...and someone has to tell the numbnuts not to charge their kit using a microwave or boiling water.