Kerri has been left with both physical and mental scars from the ordeal, and asks herself “What if my son had been in my arms?”
A woman who needed skin grafts and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder is warning others of the dangers of vape batteries.
Kerri Absolom, a 35-year-old mother from Dorset, suffered third-degree burns after her vape burst into flames while in her pocket. The alarming incident took place as she was in a hurry to leave her home, only to be met by smoke emanating from her clothing.
In the aftermath of the vape exploding, Kerri urgently required hospital attention for her severe injuries. Describing the harrowing experience, Kerri recounted: “The smell of burnt flesh made me feel sick.
“I’m not squeamish, so I looked and was shocked to see my leg had been burnt to a crisp. As I saw a small flame begin to flicker in my pocket, I tried to furiously pat it out with my hands.
“There were sparks jetting out of the battery like a firework. I tried, along with my husband, Christopher, to yank my trousers off as it got worse.
“We’d almost got them off when the vape battery fell through my trouser leg and onto the dog bed. The sparks fizzled out, but as it was scorching hot, the hissing battery melted through the bed into the carpet.
“My hand was in such throbbing pain that I hadn’t even registered what it had done to the rest of my body. But as I went to rinse them under the tap, I looked down and noticed my leg was so badly burnt that the skin was rolling into one oozing mass.”
It was in November 2022 when Kerri unplugged her lithium vape before setting off for work. Upon realising the gravity of Kerri’s condition, her husband Christopher, also 35, wasted no time calling an ambulance, reports Devon Live.
Firefighters rushed Kerri into the garden, using a hose to spray her leg in an attempt to alleviate the “excruciating” pain from the burn. Meanwhile, the vape battery, wrapped in a sock, was hastily removed from her house.
According to Kerri, the firefighters determined that the vape battery had made contact with her keys, using them as a conductor, which led to the ignition. During her week-long hospital stay in the burns unit, she was administered morphine to manage her pain, as her skin continued to weep.
Have your say in the poll below
To aid in the healing process and prevent scarring, Kerri underwent a skin graft. However, her recovery – both physically and mentally – proved to be a daunting challenge.
She recounted: “The agony was unbearable. Even getting in the shower was painful.
“And I kept getting allergic reactions and rashes from the pain medication. I struggled to sleep because I was in a constant state of fear.”
Kerri said she “became terrified that something else would explode in the night”. She added: “The smell of toast cooking would make me panic.
“At work, if someone dropped something in the warehouse or if there were sparklers and Christmas crackers being pulled at work parties, I’d freeze in a state of fear.” As a result of her ordeal, Kerri was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and remained on leave from work until January 2023.
To aid in her physical recovery, she underwent three sessions of laser treatment to accelerate the healing of her scar tissue. Now, despite her leg being mostly on the mend, she’s left with lasting scars from the burns and skin grafts.
She’s determined to use her experience as a cautionary tale about the risks associated with vape batteries, particularly given how much more severe the incident could have been. Kerri said: “I’m so careful with electronics and have since quit vaping.
“I had no idea that the batteries could be so dangerous. I’ve since taken photos of the damage and sent them to my local vape shop to warn others of the risks.
“Even though I’m coping with the trauma much better, I’m still very self-conscious about my leg. I no longer wear shorts in summer, or skirts higher than my knees. I also think back to how much worse it could’ve been – what if my son had been in my arms when it caught fire?
“The thought of him suffering injuries like mine terrifies me more than anything. For now, though, I’m glad to have left such a dangerous habit behind.”
