Ocoopa Direct is recalling about 1.5 million rechargeable hand warmers after a large number of safety complaints tied to overheating batteries. The recall follows reports of hundreds of burn injuries and one death linked to the products.
According to the recall notice described in the report, the lithium-ion batteries in the hand warmers can overheat. The products were connected to 1,480 overheating incidents, including 15 fires and roughly 350 burn injuries. The report also said an 83-year-old consumer died in an incident associated with one of the recalled devices.
The scale of the Ocoopa hand warmer recall makes it one of the more significant recent consumer product safety actions involving small rechargeable devices. Portable hand warmers are widely used in cold weather, but the case highlights the risks that can come with lithium-ion battery products when overheating occurs.
Consumers who own the recalled Ocoopa rechargeable hand warmers should check whether their device is part of the recall and stop using it until they review the company’s guidance. The recall centers on the danger of overheating, which can lead to burns, fire and other serious harm.
