A 19-year-old Casper College student is being treated for severe burns after her cell phone battery exploded, catching her bed on fire.

The cell phone was being charged near the woman's bed when the fire started, said Rich Fujita, director of college relations.

"Her roommate said the flames jumped about 18 inches in the air and caught the mattress on fire," he said.

The young women were able to smother the flames, but the injured woman incurred second-degree burns on her abdomen and shoulder and third-degree burns on her forearm, Fujita said. She was taken by ambulance to Wyoming Medical Center, then was transferred to the burn unit at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins.

Exploding cell phone batteries are relatively rare, but not unheard of, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The agency has issued recalls of several after-market cell phone batteries which have been sold along with counterfeit lithium-ion batteries known to overheat and pose fire and burn risks.

The problem drew some attention at this time last year, when a news report found 83 exploding cell phone batteries had been reported. CPSC started working more with cell phone manufacturers and issuing consumer safety tips for the high-energy lithium-ion batteries used in the phones.

Most recently, the CPSC also has issued a recall on a batch of lithium-ion batteries that power notebook computers. They too have overheated, causing fires and posing burn risks.

Staff writer Jenni Dillon can be reached at (307) 266-0619 or Jenni.Dillon@casperstartribune.net.

Safety tips

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and CTIA-The Wireless Association offer the following advice for safety with lithium-ion batteries, often found in cell phones and laptop computers.

* Do not use incompatible cell phone batteries and charges. Some Web sites and second-hand dealers might sell incompatible or even counterfeit batteries and chargers. Consumers should purchase manufacturer or carrier recommended products.

* If you have purchased an after-market battery, check the CPSC Web site, www.cpsc.gov, for recalls or safety information.

* Do not permit a battery out of the phone to come in contact with metal objects, such as coins, keys or jewelry.

* Do not crush, puncture or put a high degree of pressure on the battery, as it can cause an internal short-circuit and overheating.

* Avoid dropping the cell phone. If you suspect damage to the phone or battery, take it to a service center for inspection.

* Do not place the phone in areas that get very hot, such as on or near a cooking surface, cooking appliance, iron or radiator.

* Do not get the phone or battery wet, as water could slowly corrode the circuitry.

* Follow usage, storage and charging guidelines found in the user's guide.