E-Cigarette Explodes in Man’s Mouth

An Omaha man is claiming he will never vape again after an e-cigarette explodes in his mouth, injuring him severely.

One year ago at age 17, Mike R. decided to try his friend’s e-cigarette. As Mike inhales, the e-cigarette explodes in his mouth.

As the e-cigarette explodes, several of his teeth were knocked out and the roof of his mouth was broken. His face was also burned badly.

Mike said that, “it was very similar to the explosions, the way they make it in video games or in Hollywood.”

He said, “There was quite a bit of blood, but also some ash burned into the skin. It was black and bloody.”

Mike’s mother stated that they were unable to sue the e-cigarette maker because they were in China and unable to sue the vape shop because the e-cigarette belonged to a friend.

Mike has been forced to undergo multiple surgeries and an expensive reconstruction process which his insurance does not cover. He and his mother have had to pay for the remainder of his medical treatments out of pocket.

The Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association claims that these occurrences are becoming less common after the FDA has passed newer, stricter laws.

Reasons Behind Why E-Cigarette Explodes

Similar to exploding batteries in other products such as hoverboards and Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7, the batteries in some e-cigarettes have been known to also explode.

An e-cigarette has a small lithium-ion battery that heats the aerosol cartridge that releases a vapor that the user inhales.

These types of batteries are sensitive to damage or extreme changes in temperatures and need to be kept between 50 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sometimes, the reason behind why an e-cigarette explodes is that, if they are cheaply made, they may lack a management system that makes them more dangerous if the e-cigarette is over or under charged.

The buildup of dendrite might also form in e-cigarettes. This is a conductive filament that forms when batteries are charged and re-charged over and over again, which is extremely flammable.

E-cigarettes have also exploded in smokers’ pockets and hands, burning the users severely. They have also been connected with causing fractured bones and eyesight damage. Sometimes this requires surgery, like Mike, or skin grafts to repair the damage.

It is suggested that if you use an e-cigarette, you can reduce the chances of explosions by ensuring your battery and charger are compatible.

If you or a loved one was injured and hospitalized by an exploding e-cigarette, you may qualify to join this e-cigarette class action lawsuit investigation.