title: Lithium battery fires: implications for air medical transport.
abstract: Lithium-ion batteries provide more power and longer life to electronic medical devices, with the benefits of reduced size and weight. It is no wonder medical device manufacturers are designing these batteries into their products. Lithium batteries are found in cell phones, electronic tablets, computers, and portable medical devices such as ventilators, intravenous pumps, pacemakers, incubators, and ventricular assist devices. Yet, if improperly handled, lithium batteries can pose a serious fire threat to air medical transport personnel. Specifically, this article discusses how lithium-ion batteries work, the fire danger associated with them, preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of a lithium battery fire, and emergency procedures that should be performed in that event.
authors.affiliation: Intermountain Life Flight, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116, USA. frank.thomas@imail.org
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zobell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017732:Air Ambulances; D011211:Electric Power Supplies / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium