You read that correctly. And your next thought might be, “how many people were using laptops on the last flight I took?” And finally, “could it really happen to me?” The answer is very simple; yes.

It is no secret that lithium-ion batteries are the present and future of powering small electronic devices, such as laptops and cell phones. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable, small, and the most powerful power option that can be utilized for such devices. Unfortunately, not all are created equal.

While failure of a lithium-ion battery can cause catastrophic injuries, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself from injury. Is your laptop hot? If so, be careful and power down your device. Check for swelling of the product, specifically the lithium-ion battery. When a lithium-ion battery goes into failure, if there are no circuity to shut the battery down, it may vent causing heat to exit the battery. During the venting process, the battery may balloon and under certain circumstances, may explode. This may all happen fast so make sure to pay attention to your device.