The right to use e-cigarettes on US Navy bases and ships is currently being questioned by security officials following a series of incidents.
In a note published on August 11, the Naval Safety Center showed concern over e-cigarette use after multiple battery blasts have led to a dozen injuries since 2015. According to the memo, “ when a lithium-ion battery overheats, the protection can fail and turn an e-cigarette into a real little bomb. »
« The Naval Security Center therefore concluded that these devices pose a significant and unacceptable risk to Navy personnel, facilities, submarines, ships and aircraft carriers.". The Security Center memo therefore recommended a complete ban on products on Navy properties.
According to the same report, laptops and cell phones run on the same lithium-ion batteries, but numerous tests have shown that they do not tend to explode when overheated….
A RECOMMENDATION CURRENTLY EXAMINED
According to Lt. Marycate Walsh, spokesperson of the Navy «The command is reviewing the recommendation of the Naval Safety Center regarding e-cigarettes, weighing 
both safety and health risks»
According to the memo, the Security Center reportedly 12 incidents between October and May, no incident would have been recorded before October 2015.
7 of 12 incidents occurred on Navy ships and at least two required the use of firefighting equipment. Eight incidents occurred while the e-cigarette was in the pocket of a sailor, resulting in first and second degree burns.
Regarding two sailors, their e-cigarettes exploded during use resulting in facial and dental injuries. These injuries resulted in three days of hospitalization and over 150 days of reduced entitlement.
A PROHIBITION OF E-CIGARETTES SOON?
Le Naval Sea Systems issued a partial ban on lithium-ion batteries and the Safety Center recommends that the ban be extended to e-cigarettes.
« It is strongly recommended that measures be taken to prohibit the use, transport or storage of these devices within Navy installations "reads the memo" Along with these efforts, we recommend that the Navy launch a security campaign dedicated to informing service members of the potential danger of these products."
Source : navytimes.com
