Vaping and e-cigarettes:

Vapes may cost less than cigarettes but they're still a fire risk, and they still contain nicotine, which is highly addictive.

E-cigarettes or vapes need to be used safely and can't be sold to people under 18 years old.

Our top tips for safe use 

• Buy e-cigarettes and vapes from reputable retailers. Don’t buy counterfeit goods. Fire risks around vaping often come from counterfeit, damaged or faulty products.
• Follow the instructions for use carefully and pay close attention to any warnings supplied with the product. 
• Always make sure that e-liquids are out of reach of children and pets. 
• Never use vapes or e-cigarettes close to medical oxygen or where emollient creams or airflow mattresses are being used. 

Batteries and charging

Lots of the risk around vaping and e-cigarettes is related to their batteries and how they’re charged, so:

• If your device came with a charger, only use that charger.
• Never leave the device charging unattended or on overnight. 
• Don’t leave items continuously on charge (after the charge cycle is complete - this is usually shown by a light on the device). 
• Do not cover batteries that are on charge, in case of overheating. 
• Direct sunlight or freezing temperatures can damage the battery. Avoid storing, using, or charging batteries in these extreme temperatures, for example, in a car. 
• Protect batteries against being damaged, crushed or punctured and don’t immerse in water. 
• If the battery gets unusually hot, starts to bulge or starts hissing, stop using it immediately. Leave it in a safe place until you can dispose of it properly.
• If your device does catch fire or explode do not try to tackle the fire yourself. Get out of the property, away from the device and call 999.

How to dispose of your vape or e-cigarette

Vapes and e-cigarettes cannot go into your regular rubbish or recycling bin as the battery could be damaged and start a fire.

There are a number of ways you can safely dispose of vapes or e-cigarettes:

• By law, shops that sell these devices must allow you to drop off your old ones for them to dispose of safely. You can take used devices to any major vape retailer or specialist shop.
• You can take your device to your local recycling centre for household waste. They all have dedicated bins for small electrical items and lithium-ion batteries.
• You can also find your nearest drop-off point on the Recycle your electricals website.