- 14 Mar 2002
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The National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) and doctors warn that using portable fans can increase the risk of harmful accidents and heat stroke. While these devices provide adequate airflow, they pose a danger in specific circumstances:
Kunihisa Miura, vice director of Tokyo Hikifune Hospital, cautioned that portable fans can be dangerous in extreme heat. He explained that under the hot sun, the airflow from a fan can feel like a blast of hot air from a hair dryer. If the airflow is uncomfortable, he advised against using the fan. Miura noted that sweat plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature by evaporating. However, when sweat dries on the skin while using a portable fan, it becomes more difficult to cool down. This can lead to an increase in skin surface temperature if exposed to air warmer than the body. The doctor recommended avoiding using portable fans outdoors when temperatures reach 30 degrees Celsius or higher.
Many portable fans are powered by small, lightweight lithium-ion batteries. These batteries can overheat if dropped, subjected to external shocks, or left in high-temperature environments like car hoods. Additionally, there's always the risk of mechanical malfunctions. The National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) reported 51 portable fan accidents over the past five years. In July 2020, a man in Hyogo Prefecture suffered minor injuries when his portable fan caught fire while charging. The device was unbranded and had contact information for a Chinese retailer. NITE officials advised consumers to ensure their portable fans are reliable and to stop using them immediately if they are dropped or subjected to strong shocks.
Are portable fans used outside Japan, too?
Kunihisa Miura, vice director of Tokyo Hikifune Hospital, cautioned that portable fans can be dangerous in extreme heat. He explained that under the hot sun, the airflow from a fan can feel like a blast of hot air from a hair dryer. If the airflow is uncomfortable, he advised against using the fan. Miura noted that sweat plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature by evaporating. However, when sweat dries on the skin while using a portable fan, it becomes more difficult to cool down. This can lead to an increase in skin surface temperature if exposed to air warmer than the body. The doctor recommended avoiding using portable fans outdoors when temperatures reach 30 degrees Celsius or higher.
Many portable fans are powered by small, lightweight lithium-ion batteries. These batteries can overheat if dropped, subjected to external shocks, or left in high-temperature environments like car hoods. Additionally, there's always the risk of mechanical malfunctions. The National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) reported 51 portable fan accidents over the past five years. In July 2020, a man in Hyogo Prefecture suffered minor injuries when his portable fan caught fire while charging. The device was unbranded and had contact information for a Chinese retailer. NITE officials advised consumers to ensure their portable fans are reliable and to stop using them immediately if they are dropped or subjected to strong shocks.
Are portable fans used outside Japan, too?
Japan fire dept. warns dropped portable fans may later explode - The Mainichi
TOKYO -- A fire department in Japan is warning consumers not to use portable electric fans once they have been dropped as the impact could later cause