MONTRÉAL, Nov. 21, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Dr. Richard Massé, director of public health for Montréal, held a press briefing today. With him were Captains Sylvain Sévigny and Éris Tisseur of the City of Montréal's fire department. As a result of an incident that occurred last week, Dr. Massé has issued recommendations for people on oxygen therapy who use e-cigarettes. This is the first case of this kind in Canada.
Reported incident
Montréal's public health department was informed of an incident involving a patient on oxygen therapy who was the victim of a fire caused by the use of an e-cigarette. The director of public health asked his team to investigate in order to assess the situation and determine the circumstances in which the incident happened. Findings showed that the use of e-cigarettes by people receiving oxygen therapy can be associated with a risk of fire and explosion. Dr. Massé concluded there was a need for public recommendations.
Recommendations
The following safety measures should be applied when handling or using home or portable oxygen therapy equipment:
- Don't use an e-cigarette at the same time as oxygen therapy equipment
- Stay at least three metres away from anyone using an e-cigarette
- When charging an e-cigarette, keep the charger at least three metres away from the oxygen equipment
Other cases around the world
There have been similar incidents in other countries. In the United States, the U.S. Fire Administration has reported 25 separate incidents where battery failure caused fires or explosions. Most of the incidents occurred while the battery was charging. In the United Kingdom, over a hundred fires have been reported, including one in which a man was killed when a charging e-cigarette exploded and ignited the oxygen equipment he was using.
1 Electronic Cigarette Fires and Explosions. FEMA
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/electronic_cigarettes.pdf
Calls for safety warnings after 'exploding' e-cigarette chargers cause more than 100 fires. 15 novembre 2014.
SOURCE: Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal
Agence de Montréal, 514-286-5709, www.agence.santemontreal.qc.ca, facebook.com/santemontreal, twitter.com/santemontreal, youtube.com/Agencedemontreal
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