Let’s review everything Sparky the Fire Dog taught us about lithium-ion battery safety! Use this checklist to make sure you and your family are following all the important rules:

When BUYING:

• Look for safety marks (UL, ETL, CSA)
• Check both the box and the product
• Choose listed products only

When CHARGING:

• Use the original charging cable
• Charge on hard, flat surfaces
• Never charge on beds, couches, or under pillows
• Unplug when fully charged
• Charge large items like e-bikes outside
• Replace damaged cables right away

When RECYCLING:

• Never throw batteries in regular trash
• Take them to battery recycling locations
• Look up drop-off spots at call2recycle.org

Warning Signs: If a battery or device smells strange, gets very hot, makes popping sounds, or changes shape, tell an adult immediately and stay away from it.

Fire Prevention Week is a great time to talk with your family about these safety rules. You can even help remind adults in your house about charging devices safely! When everyone works together, we can prevent fires and keep our homes safe. Great job learning about battery safety with Sparky!

For more information, please reach out to:

Al McDermott
Division Chief of Community Risk Reduction
608-835-5587 x1500