The e-cigarette he was using exploded. A Floridaman is in a medically induced coma after the e-cigarette he was using exploded. WINK News reports that Evan Spahlinger, 21, was badly burned and is in critical condition at a Miami hospital. “I was laying in bed with my 2-year-old and I heard an explosion, then I […]
The e-cigarette he was using exploded. A Floridaman is in a medically induced coma after the e-cigarette he was using exploded. WINK News reports that Evan Spahlinger, 21, was badly burned and is in critical condition at a Miami hospital. “I was laying in bed with my 2-year-old and I heard an explosion, then I started smelling burning, smoke and fire,” said Ema Richardson, according to WINK. “I found my brother not breathing, with his whole face burned and his neck burned and trying to throw up a little or maybe he was gasping for air, so I called 911,”
Spahlinger, who was found covered in soot, was rushed to NCH Downtown Naples Hospital. He was then flown to Miami hospital. “They said he has internal and external burns and damage to his lungs from the explosion itself. And possibly the mouth piece went, when the cigarette exploded, it went down his throat and exploded again.” said Richardson. North Collier Fire & Rescue, who is investigating the situation, told WINK News the explosion was probably caused by the lithium battery.
Spahlinger’s family is now warning others about the risk of e-cigarettes exploding. Richardson says her brother is giving up the devices entirely. “He said, ‘I’m done, that’s it.’ That’s the only thing he said. Luckily I was here, it was the most traumatic experience I think of my life.” She also said “We want people to know the risk and dangers. Had Evan of known, maybe he wouldn’t have chosen to smoke the electronic cigarette.”
This is not the first time someone has been injured by an exploding e-cigarette. Recently, a California jury awarded $2 million to woman who suffered serious burns after her e-cigarette exploded. Last April in England, an 18-year-old bartender’s dress caught on fire when her coworker’s e-cigarette exploded nearby.
Last April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed regulation of e-cigarettes. The new rules would ban sales to Americans under the age of 18 and require manufacturers to list the ingredients in their products.
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