E-cigs are basically designed for the health-conscious smoker, but frequent reports of things like battery explosions and scattered e-liquid poisonings serve as stark reminders that it isn’t all about the relative safety of vaporized e-liquid in comparison to combusted tobacco.In fact, learning about the basic safe use of an electronic cigarette is essential, whether you have a beginner-friendly cig-a-like, an eGo style model, an electronically-regulated APV or (especially) a mechanical mod.Without intending to be insensitive, it must be said that most of the events that have occurred so far can be put down to people not following reasonable safety precautions.That’s what the “Complete Guide to E-Cig Safety” is for – to provide all the information you need to safely use your e-cig in one place.There will still be accidents (because there always are), but if vapers heed the advice given here, they can be kept to an absolute minimum.Beginner-friendly e-cigs are designed with the aim of being exceptionally easy to use, and the safety concerns when it comes to usage really are minimal.

However, it’s important to understand that cartomizers do get hot, be able to identify when you’re running out of liquid and learn how to safely store your e-cig.Many reported e-cig explosions occurred during charging, and in many cases could have been averted or the damage minimized with safe charging practices.They’re almost always printed in the manual, but the best way to minimize the chance of problems during charging is to follow a few simple guidelines.Standard e-cigarettes are fairly well self contained.When carrying them, just make sure cartridges and things stay free of debris like pocket lint.The bigger concern is with charging safety: Always use the manufacturer’s recommended charger and follow instructions, do not charge unattended.– Steve K. (Steve K’s Vaping World) I’d also add that batteries should be charged on a flat wooden surface.Batteries can also be placed in fire safe charging bags – we’ve been struggling to find ones which are UK approved, though.

– James Dunworth (E Cigarette Direct) Carrying your e-cig safely is easy, but if you do it wrong and end up with a short circuit you can run into some serious problems.The risks are vastly reduced with beginner level e-cigs, but it’s still important to understand why you shouldn’t carry loose batteries in your pocket with keys, coins or anything else metallic and learn how to guard yourself against potential issues.e cigarette celebritiesHere’s a quick tip to ensure the safety of yourself and others around you when carrying your e-cig.e cigarette ayrIt’s vital to always make sure you turn your device off before carrying your e-cig in your pocket, purse, or the like.e cigarette fremantleAnything can easily hit and activate your device and cause you danger.

If your device doesn’t have a shutoff switch, I don’t recommend carrying it along with you without keeping a constant check on it.What I like to do is check to make sure my device is turned off just in case, even if I know I turned it off.Not to sound too corny, but when it comes to e-cigs, safety should always come first.– ) Aside from the fact that they can get pretty hot with extended use, the main risk associated with cartomizers and clearomizers is that they contain e-liquid.Nicotine is highly toxic, and the fact that it’s a component of most e-liquids effectively renders them poisons.Most beginners first come into contact with e-liquid when some leaks from the tip of the e-cig and you accidently get some in your mouth.It’s definitely an unpleasant experience, but is it dangerous?How can you prevent it from happening?I can remember the first time I got a little e-liquid in my mouth.My post on the ECF was… “Am I going to die?” Luckily we live in a world where leaking isn’t much of a problem anymore.

Most of what you get in your mouth at this point is condensation.This can be minimized by continuing your draw AFTER you release the fire button.This will clear out any vapor in your device and minimize condensation as much as possible.As far as “Is it anything to be concerned about”… I’m not a doctor or a chemist so I really can’t comment, but I can tell you that it’s happened to me, and I’m still here.– ) Vaping while you drive is fine, but – as you should when eating, drinking, changing a radio station, or anything else when you’re driving – it’s important to exercise caution.If your e-cig is charged, loaded with e-liquid and ready to go, it’s safer to vape when driving than smoke.However, if you’re left with any other – more fiddly – tasks to attend to at the wheel, you’re putting yourself, the people in your car and others on the road at undue risk.I don’t see any real harm in having a vape whilst driving and I will admit to frequently doing that myself.

However, if I saw someone trying to refill their tank, rebuild a coil etc whilst driving then I would be inclined to shout some obscenities at them!If you are vaping then at least your eyes are on the road and it’s still possible to have both hands on the steering wheel, but refilling the tank etc would most definitely be a major distraction and should be avoided at all times in my opinion.Just stay safe and pull over!– ) General e-liquid safety is a unique issue because it’s one of the only areas where a lax attitude could cause harm to someone else, not just you.You wouldn’t drink from a bottle of e-liquid (especially if you’ve ever accidently tasted the stuff), but the same can’t be said for children or pets, who can also be killed by much smaller amounts of liquid than an adult.That’s why e-liquid safety is essential, but the issues are analogous to those with the safe storage of things like medicines, alcohol or cleaning products.Much like a gun or booze or draino, don’t keep your liquid out where kids can get it.

I have a 4lb Chihuahua dog that LOVES to chew things.If she got a hold of some juice it would certainly kill her.Just be careful honestly.– ) Dr Houezec has pointed out that flavour degradation is more of a concern than nicotine degradation.But even so, it should be safe to store for a year, or more than a year if frozen.– James Dunworth (ECigaretteDirect.co.uk) There are many health issues and sensitivities that could impact on your e-cigarette use, so it’s important to learn about things like symptoms of allergic reactions to look out for.The most common issue with e-cigarettes is throat irritation from propylene glycol (PG – the primary component of most e-liquid) or even an allergy to it, but there are also additional concerns for those with some health conditions, who are pregnant or those taking specific medicines.Humans come in contact with a large variety of substances and irritant or allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions may occur in predisposed individuals.

Propylene glycol (PG) and its pyrolysis by-product formaldehyde are no exceptions.The majority of skin reactions to PG are irritant in nature, however, true allergic sensitization does also occur.In vapers who became sensitized, direct contact with PG may cause multiple small (1 – 2 mm) papules, pustules and vesicles around the mouth or in the oral mucosa with associated burning, stinging sensation in the affected areas.However, development of systemic symptoms after oral exposure to PG is rare.Common sense would suggest avoiding the offending agent (i.e.PG) and switching to products containing only vegetable glycerin.– Professor Riccardo Polosa You’ll hear from many places that the fatal dose of nicotine for an adult is between 30 and 60 mg, but this is estimate is actually based on an extremely questionable piece of science.The figure has been called into question by stories of people consuming over 60 mg and surviving, and from the measured nicotine concentrations in the blood of people who did die from an overdose.

In short, it’s extremely unlikely that anyone would be able to consume enough liquid through vaping to overdose, but it’s still important to know the early symptoms of nicotine poisoning.I am not sure how genuine this concern may be for the average vaper.In general, smokers (and by inference, vapers) titrate their nicotine intake based on the feedback they get from their bodies.Feeling dizzy or nauseated is a sign of too much nicotine.Feeling fatigued, dopey, and confused is a sign of not enough nicotine.As a result, nicotine consumers self-regulate nicotine intake to meet their needs.With the exception of those affected by active psychiatric conditions, it is uncommon for the average vaper to experience symptoms of severe overdosing (e.g.progression from agitation, nausea, vomiting, tachypnea, and tremors to loss of consciousness).In order to minimize nicotine overdose in first time vapers, common sense would suggest gradual nicotine up-dosing, starting with a low/medium concentration (depending on the nicotine level in their own brand) in the e-liquid.

– Professor Riccardo Polosa Steeping is the process of agitating e-liquids to mix the ingredients and allowing the harsher elements to evaporate away.In many ways, advice for safe steeping is effectively the same as the advice for the safe storage of e-liquids, but there are some unique concerns too.[Steeping safety is] essentially the same as storage.If you steep with an open lid, do so only while you can directly watch over the e-liquid.– Steve K (Steve K’s Vaping World) You may notice expiry dates listed on some bottles of e-liquid, and – with food expiry dates being often inaccurate – it’s pretty natural to wonder whether expired e-liquid is really anything to worry about.The expiry date for e-liquid isn’t well-established, but following general guidance and trusting your senses helps you determine if a juice is safe to vape.The wide variety of flavors in e-liquid is one of the best things about vaping, but it can also cause problems with some cheaper tanks and clearomizers.

This is because polycarbonate plastic can’t stand up to strong acids or bases, so it’s worth either investing in a new tank or choosing one made from a different material.It really depends on what you vape.If you vape liquids that are known to break down plastic tanks, then invest in a glass tank.There are many available and they’re becoming more and more standard.If you have glass, you don’t have to worry about the liquid.Just be careful… it’s glass!No matter what the quality, or the amount you paid for it, if you hit it with a hammer, it’s gonna break!So when you drop it on your concrete driveway and it breaks (it’s happened to me) don’t be too surprised.– ) Mixing your own e-liquid is a great way to save more money while vaping and an appealing hobby in its own right, but if you attempt it without sufficient knowledge of what’s involved it can be very dangerous indeed.Before you attempt DIY mixing, it’s essential you understand the safety concerns brought about by handling high-strength nicotine.

Explosions or bottle-rocket like venting with flames events are the scariest things that can happen with your e-cig, and it doesn’t become a serious concern until you step into the world of mods.Mechanical mods are undoubtedly the primary concern, but learning how to minimize the risk of explosions and “thermal runaway” events is essential for mod-loving vapers.From a personal perspective, I will only ever use AW IMR batteries that use the safe chemistry.I have always felt comfortable using them but I’m very mindful that no battery is completely risk free from failure so if I notice anything strange going on that appears out of the ordinary then I will dispose of the battery and purchase a replacement.In all honesty, I’m not 100% sure what the correct procedure is should you ever notice that a battery is overheating, but on the single rare occasion this has happened to me I immediately removed the battery and placed it outside out of harm’s way.I waited a few hours before returning to it and then disposed of it immediately.

In this rare circumstance it’s vitally important to investigate what caused the issue before trying again with another battery.In my case, the rubber grommet that separates the positive and negative connections of the atomiser had failed which in turn created a short.– ) Every battery has a limit on how much current it can provide, and if you go over this limit you’re running the risk of suffering a catastrophic failure.As with most other mod safety topics, this is particularly important for anybody using a mechanical mod.The core principle is that of Ohm’s law, and the maximum amount of amps your battery is capable of putting out, but it also has implications for when you build your own coil.KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING!KNOW WHAT YOUR BATTERY IS CAPABLE OF!If you’re into sub-ohming or want to get into it, it’s important to know about the resistance you’re building, that you don’t have a short, and the amp draw it will require.This is why I recommend only two batteries at this point, the Sony us18650vct3 1600 mAh and the Sony us18650vtc4 2100 mAh.

Are there others you can use?But since these have the highest amp rating of any battery I know, 30A, it’s what I like to recommend.Remember, the only thing that should be getting hot is your coil!– ) Despite claims, and often paperwork, to the contrary, many overseas suppliers supply batteries without overcharge protection.Good retailers get their own testing done in their own country – so look for evidence that the batteries have been certified in your country as well as at the point of manufacture.We also batch test batteries by overcharging them in an explosion proof container.– James Dunworth (ECigaretteDirect.co.uk) Rebuildable atomizers are a great way to save money, but they also offer you the freedom to tweak your device to your preferences, improving flavor and vapor production in the process.Much of the safety advice related to them follows directly on from the previous post, but there are some unique concerns too.OHMS jumping around is the sure sign of a short.

Wires should not be touching each other, or the posts, or the deck.My first coils vaped and looked awful.After a while you WILL get the hang of it.It just takes practice.If juice is applied to your wick and coils, you should never see anything glowing red.– ) The reason most of the safety advice in this section primarily applies to mechanical mods is that electronically regulated devices like the ProVari and Lavatube have built in protection against things like shorts and monitor your battery level for you.With mechanical mods, the task of staying safe rests on your shoulders, so it’s essential to appreciate the additional risks if you use one.You always want to know what your batteries are capable of, and what you are asking them do to.High quality, high drain batteries WILL cost more.Without an ohm reader, or multi-meter you won’t know the “math” of what you are doing.It’s crucial to know three things.Your resistance, the AMP limit of the battery and how many amps the coil is asking from the battery.

– ) Aside from your liquid, the wick is the main potential source of contaminants in the vapor you inhale, so almost all wicks need to be prepared in some way before use.The common processes for this preparation may present issues of their own, too, so some precautions are necessary when you’re dealing with wicks.Drip tips are effectively safety devices in their own right, but some vapers have burned their lips from a heat-conductive drip tip.Minimizing the chance of any problems is very easy, though, and there are plenty of options for drip tip material that are resistant to heat.Keeping your drip-tip clean is also advised to present a build-up of gunk.I don’t let anything get hot enough to care I guess.As far as keeping your tips clean, I do a quick boil on mine every now and then or just use some ‘vapor towel.’ ‘Dimitri’s Sex Toy Cleaner’ also works just fine.– ) A small amount of trepidation about the safety issues of vaping is a good thing – if you’re slightly concerned, you’ll double-check things and err on the side of caution – but it’s important not to be afraid of anything.

The main safety risks when it comes to using electronic cigarettes are the potential for a thermal runaway event or a battery meltdown and the risk of nicotine poisoning after exposure to large amounts of e-liquid.When it comes to batteries, it can’t be stressed enough that all lithium batteries carry the same risks, and you’re exposed to it every day, vaper or not.It’s a very unlikely event if you don’t abuse your battery.Additionally, with electronically controlled devices and safer chemistry batteries, the chance of a serious event is reduced even further.For liquid exposure, the revised nicotine toxicity estimates are comforting, but the thing that will allay your fears most is that – even if you’re mixing – there is no need to use seriously dangerous nicotine concentrations.For ordinary vapers, it’s effectively impossible to vape your way to nicotine overdose using any standard-strength liquid.The key point is that you aren’t in danger.Your e-cigarette is not a ticking time bomb, and your e-liquid can’t jump out of the bottle and fly down your throat.