Lava Lamp Hazards

Urban legends and myths often surround stories of things exploding because of something that was ingested or overheated. One prevalent myth claims that, if you put a lava lamp on the stove, it could explode and kill you. Unfortunately, this alleged myth is actually fact, and it is true that lava lamps could pose a serious hazard to you and your children.

The problem occurs when the lamp is placed on a burning stove. The high temperature of the glass bottle that the lava is in creates an increasing amount of pressure inside the bottle. When the pressure becomes too great for the bottle to hold, it explodes, sending shards of glass flying in all directions. This can be lethal, because the explosion sends the glass flying at a high enough speed to strike a person and penetrate vital organs.

Another safety issue associated with these lamps is them becoming overheated by their own heating mechanism. To enjoy your lava lamp safely, follow these guidelines:

• Never place your lava lamp on a stove.
• Do not handle the lamp when it is operating or still hot
• Keep your lamp in a clean, neat area to avoid papers catching on fire.
• Only plug the polarized plug into polarized sockets, and never into extension cords .

Fortunately, the materials used to make the lava liquid are non-hazardous. If your child swallows or ingests the liquid there is no threat to their health or safety, but probably just a terrible taste.

If your child has been injured by a lava lamp or other toy, contact the Racine product liability lawyers of Habush, Habush, & Rottier S.C. at 1-800-682-3434 to discuss your case and legal options.