Do Not Take It Lightly: Mixing E-Cigarette Batteries with Coins Can Have Serious Consequences (Illus

According to Canada’s Global News, on Friday night last week in Calgary, a man suffered severe burns after an e-cigarette battery exploded in his pocket and was taken to Foothills Hospital for treatment. Because of the third-degree burns, he was told he would need skin graft surgery. It was later confirmed that the accident was caused by a short circuit after a spare e-cigarette battery in his pocket came into contact with loose coins.

According to reports, Terrence Johnson and his wife Rachel Rex had just finished dinner and were about to leave the restaurant when flames suddenly shot out from Johnson’s pants pocket, leaving him badly burned. “After having a meal at our favorite restaurant, Embarcadero, we were outside chatting with our favorite server when suddenly there was an explosion and flames went everywhere. We realized my husband Terrence was on fire. The spare battery for his e-cigarette exploded in his pocket,” Rex said. “His jeans and polyester-cotton underwear were burned through, and the fire also burned his skin. His hands were burned as he tried to put out the flames. Most of his injuries are first- and second-degree burns, but the blackened area on his thigh is third-degree and he may need a skin graft.”

“Needless to say, it was terrifying. He will never use e-cigarettes again,” Rex said.