HOUSTON, Texas – Doctors are sounding the alarm about an often-overlooked danger linked to vaping.
While most conversations focus on lung damage, burn specialists say the devices themselves can pose a serious and sometimes devastating health risk.
Dr. Ludwik Branski, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Shriners Children’s Texas, says he’s seeing more patients with severe burn injuries tied directly to vape devices.
Dr. Branski warns that the powerful batteries inside the devices can fail without warning.
Like a Blowtorch in Your Pocket
From the outside, vaping devices can look harmless, but inside many of them is a lithium-ion battery that, under certain conditions, can essentially turn into a blowtorch.
Dr. Branski said his patients have been burned while simply sitting with the devices in a pants pocket or bag when they suddenly ignite or explode.
“Some of them are really cheaply made, and people have them burn and explode in their pockets,” Dr. Branski said. “They usually happen in the groin, in the upper leg area.”
When that happens, the burns can be deep and devastating, often requiring surgery and long-term reconstruction.
Recently, the American Burn Association issued a specific warning on vaping safety, underscoring how seriously burn experts across the country are taking these incidents.
Why Vaping Devices Can Fail
Common risk factors include:
- Cheap or poorly made devices
- Counterfeit or damaged batteries that are more likely to fail
- Improper charging, including using the wrong charger or overcharging
- Exposure to heat like leaving a device in a hot car or direct sunlight
- Short circuits often occur when loose batteries touch metal objects like keys or coins
Safety Tips: How to Reduce the Risk of Vape-Related Burns
Experts say that if people are going to use vape devices, they need to treat them like the powerful electronics they are.
Here are key safety tips to reduce the risk of burns:
- Charging Safety - Use only the charger that came with the device. Different chargers can deliver different voltages or currents. The wrong one can overheat the battery. Unplug once fully charged. Overcharging can stress the battery and increase the risk of failure. Never charge on soft surfaces like beds, pillows, or sofas. These can trap heat, block airflow, and allow the device to overheat without you noticing.
- Battery Handling - Do not use devices with damaged, swollen, wet, or leaking batteries. Any visible damage is a red flag. Avoid counterfeit or off-brand batteries. Stick with batteries and replacements from reputable manufacturers.
- Storage & Everyday Use - Keep devices away from extreme heat. Don’t leave them in hot cars, direct sunlight, or near heaters. Turn devices off before storing them in bags, purses, or pockets. Accidental activation can cause overheating. Store devices in a cool, dry place when not in use, ideally in a dedicated case.
- Device Integrity & Design - Avoid modifying or “hacking” the device. Changes to coils, batteries, or power output can dramatically increase the risk of overheating and failure. Look for devices with built‑in safety features, such as:
- Overcharge protection
- Short-circuit protection
- Overheat/thermal cutoffs
These features can’t eliminate risk, but they can reduce it.
The Bottom Line
Vaping carries multiple layers of risk from lung damage to severe, life-altering burn injuries. While health experts continue to warn against vaping entirely, they stress that anyone who does use these devices must understand the dangers of the batteries inside them.