Electronic Cigarette 'Bang' at Street Bonfire... Mother’s Despair as 7-Year-Old Daughter Loses Sight

E-Cigarette Explosion Accident on the Way Home
7-Year-Old Child Undergoes Emergency Surgery and Loses an Eye
Mother: "If I Could, I Would Give My Eye"

A 7-year-old girl in Ireland lost her right eye after an electronic cigarette exploded while she was walking down the street.

On the 15th (local time), the British media outlet The Sun reported, "Ruby Grainger (7) recently experienced an explosion accident on her way home after buying ice cream."

According to the media, Ruby recently passed by a campfire on her way home after buying ice cream. Suddenly, something exploded from the campfire, hitting Ruby's face and right eye. Ruby's mother, Kiara Grainger, explained the situation at the time of the accident: "Ruby came home, and I was so shocked to see her like that. She was screaming and trembling violently. There was blood on her face." Kiara immediately called an ambulance, and Ruby was transported to a nearby hospital.

The medical staff treating Ruby had to remove her eye during emergency surgery. The medical team stated, "We have seen many patients brought in due to explosion accidents, but this is the first time we had to remove an eye completely," adding, "Her eye was severely injured, crushed like a mashed potato." Kiara expressed her anguish, saying, "It is still hard to believe that Ruby's eye is gone. If I could, I would give my eye to her." Ruby is currently scheduled for surgery to implant a prosthetic eye.

A 7-year-old child in Ireland lost one eye after an electronic cigarette exploded on the way home.
[Photo by The Sun]

After the accident, several burnt electronic cigarettes were found at the scene. It is presumed that someone threw them into the fire. This led to the conclusion that the cause of the damage to Ruby's eye was the electronic cigarette's battery acid. This refers to the acidic components among the chemicals inside the battery. In particular, batteries for electronic devices such as lithium-ion batteries contain chemicals used as strong oxidizers or electrolytes. Some of these chemicals are acidic and can cause severe chemical burns to the skin and eyes if the battery is damaged or explodes.

Amid recent electronic cigarette explosion incidents, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends storing batteries safely in proper protective cases. It is important not to expose batteries in pockets, bags, or travel luggage. Also, electronic cigarettes should be charged using the charger included with the product, and it is best not to charge them while sleeping or when away from home. When charging batteries, safety guidelines should be followed to prevent overcharging.