Syracuse, NY – A New York hospital is reinforcing its ban on electronic cigarettes after a patient on oxygen was burned by a fire that erupted while she was puffing on one of the devices.
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Syracuse Fire Department officials say the exact cause of last month’s fire at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center has not yet been determined. However, hospital officials say the patient had a battery-powered e-cigarette, which uses a heating element to vaporize nicotine.
Hospital officials say the victim, who has not been identified, suffered first- and second-degree burns across her face, but is home and doing well.
St. Joseph’s has had a policy that prohibits tobacco and tobacco product use inside its buildings for several years, according to hospital spokeswoman Vicki VanSlyke. The policy was recently amended to prohibit tobacco products on hospital grounds. E-cigarettes were not specifically identified in the policy but are now, VanSlyke said.
The e-cigarette industry started on the Internet and at shopping-mall kiosks. It has rocketed from thousands of users in 2006 to several million worldwide who can choose from more than 200 brands.
Smokers nationwide are increasingly turning to electronic cigarettes to get their nicotine fix, and the Food and Drug Administration will propose rules for e-cigarettes as early as this month.
There have been several reports of e-cigarette-related fires involving various name brands across the country.
Thomas Kiklas, co-founder of the Georgia-based Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, a nonprofit that promotes the industry, said clients are advised to “make sure the charger is matched to the product purchased and to never have one next to something flammable.”
“With any battery, there will be incidents of failure, no matter the technology,” Kiklas said Tuesday.
This is so overblown that it is sickening! There are hundreds more accidents with bleach than there are with E Cigarettes. The government is looking for every possible way to discredit it and its not working!
E-Cigarettes need to be handled with care just like a bottle of aspirin, bleach and another “Keep out of reach of children” item. The government is not happy with the fact that they are losing millions every day in tobacco tax income and are trying to tax this industry, but have not yet to date found a doctor that can tell them this is dangerous, because it is not! This is pure water vapor technology and accidents with battery will happen.
If you add nicotine to it than you keep it away from children and that’s that! It’s all hype, i use it and used to be a heavy smoker, and i don’t smoke anymore and feel much better. BIG BROTHER go away!
#1 you are so right, when an item does not have favor in the eyes of the powers that be it will be discredited.
i do not smoke but find the smoking ads on tv horrible to watch.
why arent they showing pictures of a diseased liver or driving while drunk accidents as well? people die from liquor too..i dont drink either