Electronic cigarette explodes in patient’s mouth causing injuries similar to a ‘gunshot wound to the face’
Medics are teaming up with Trading Standards and fire chiefs to warn of the dangers - especially of buying cheap knock offs abroad
A TOP plastic surgeon has issued a stark warning over the use of e-cigarettes after hearing reports of them exploding in people's mouths - leaving them with injuries similar to those of a gun shot wound.
Surgeon Dai Nguyen said the hospital she works at in Wales has treated five patients for burns from exploding e-cigs this year and claims "people could die" in house fires if the devices are not made safer.
"Now we have had five which reflects the rising popularity of these e-cigarettes.”
"It’s not just us, this is something that is starting to be highlighted nationwide.
"I think we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. I suspect a lot of A and E departments may also be dealing with these incidents and we’re just not aware of them."
The patients Ms Nguyen had seen suffered superficial burns and have all recovered.
But she said: "I am aware of other cases which have required surgery and skin grafts.
"There have also been reports of e-cigarettes exploding in people’s mouths which resulted in catastrophic injuries similar to those you would experience if you were shot in the face by a gun."
Swansea Trading Standards officer David Picken added: "These chargers have not been constructed to the correct safety standards and are often counterfeit.
"Take additional care when buying online.
How to treat burns and scalds caused by e-cigarettes
Plastic surgeon Dai Nguyen's advice on what to do if you suffer a burn from an e-cigarette product...
-If your clothes catch light, the first thing you should do is drop and then roll to put out the flames.
-Don’t pat the flames out because you will burn your hands.
-The clothing should be removed and the burn run under cold water for 10 to 20 minutes. This is really important as it will help the heat dissipate away from the tissue
-Get some cling film, cover the burn and then call for help or go to A&E.
- The cling film protects the burn but still allows paramedics or doctors to look at it.
"Consider carefully if the cheapest is the best, particularly when the goods are coming directly to you from a business outside of the UK and EU."
He warned customers to check the products are labelled correctly, especially for the CE mark - which means it conforms to standards set by the EU - and to ask where they come from.
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