About 1.5% of lithium-ion batteries are linked to overheating, explosion or fire incidents each year, according to a report from Gitnux. While statistics show that these batteries are pretty safe overall, their use in a wide range of products – including small electronics, toys, e-scooters and e-bikes, smoke alarms, electronic smoking devices and, of course, electric vehicles – means that most are likely to have something in their home that utilizes them. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that there is an average of one battery fire every two days in the United States. As such, it's important that everyone be aware of the risks involved with this technology and how to avoid devastating mishaps. Perhaps the most common lithium-ion battery people are exposed to daily is the one in their smartphone. Nearly half of cell phone fires are caused by lithium-ion batteries, and the National Fire Protection Association reports that about 24% of cell phone fires are caused by improper charging or the use of incompatible chargers. Many lithium-ion battery fires are preventable, with Gitnux reporting that 30% to 40% of lithium-ion battery fires are caused by external factors like short-circuiting, overcharging or over-discharging, and 12% are caused by mishandling or misuse of the batteries. In the slideshow above, we'll look at tips from Nationwide for mitigating the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.

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