Four Tips to Gift Safely This Holiday Season

Finding the perfect gift isn’t easy, but you can narrow down your choices by selecting safe products. Discover four essential gift safety tips to protect your loved ones from dangerous chargers, unsafe batteries, and counterfeit products this year.

1. Choose Safe, Smart Chargers for Devices

Everybody needs new chargers to replace frayed cables. And with wireless headphones, smartphones, and tablets at the top of planned gift lists, safe chargers are a must. Unfortunately, counterfeits have flooded the market. In a safety test of 400 counterfeit Apple adapters, only 3 of 400 passed — a 99% failure rate. These substandard chargers pose real dangers including lethal electrocution, or overcharging and short circuits that could cause the rechargeable battery in a device to catch fire and explode — a phenomenon known as thermal runaway.

Whenever possible, buy replacements or extras from the manufacturer, and make sure they conform to UL 9990, our standard for information and communication technology power cables, to reduce the risk of fire or electric shock.  

2. Opt for Reliable Rechargeables That Meet Safety Standards 

Many of the most coveted electronics this year are rechargeable, including electronic toys, small kitchen appliances, smartwatches, portable speakers, power tools, e-mobility devices, and personal care products. To avoid battery fires from thermal runaway, it’s important to buy products and batteries that adhere to safety standards. Although substandard alternatives may be easily available for a low price, we caution shoppers not to bargain away safety. 

Make sure rechargeable electronics meet safety standards like UL 1642 and UL 2054, which cover the batteries and cells in many portable devices, or UL 2271, UL 2272, and UL 2849, which cover the batteries and electrical systems in e-mobility devices and reduce the risk of fire or explosion.

3. Select Secure, Small-Battery Products That Prevent Battery Ingestion Risks 

The only thing worse than realizing you don’t have the right batteries for the new toy your child had at the top of her wish list? Not knowing the accidental ingestion risks posed by small batteries in poorly designed compartments. For younger children, be cautious with products containing coin- and button-cell batteries — and not just in their toys. These batteries are widely used in household electronics such as remotes, key fobs, calculators, electric tea lights, and more.

Our standard, UL 4200A, became mandatory for household products containing button- and coin-cell batteries in September 2023. It requires secure battery closures by means of a screw or two-step process to make it more difficult for batteries to fall out or be accidentally removed by children. Also be sure to look for products conforming to ASTM F963, which provides similar protections for children’s toys.

4. Avoid Counterfeit Products, Which Can Be Costly

When people think of counterfeit items, they mostly think of accessories and apparel. While buyers may be aware they are not getting a genuine designer handbag for $20, they may have a harder time distinguishing, for example, a counterfeit lithium-ion battery from the original manufacturer item. 

A faulty battery carries more injury risk than a fake purse, and can end up costing consumers far more than they bargained for if it leads to a thermal runaway incident. Take extra precautions to avoid buying counterfeit products and research product authenticity before purchasing. This holiday season, take the time to ensure the gifts you give are certified to applicable safety standards by looking for the mark of an independent, third-party testing laboratory such as UL Solutions, Intertek, or CSA Group.

When it comes to holiday gifting, nothing is more important than the safety of your loved ones. By choosing products that meet safety standards and come from reputable sources, you can enjoy a stress-free season knowing you’ve given thoughtful and safe gifts.