Rechargeable hand warmers are a popular winter staple — compact, convenient, and easy to slip into a pocket or glove. They are also powered by lithium-ion batteries, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says those batteries have caused fires, burn injuries, and at least one death. In August 2026, CPSC acted against OCOOPA Direct rechargeable hand warmers after the lithium-ion batteries in approximately 1.5 million units were found capable of overheating and igniting — with one reported death.
Why Lithium Hand Warmer Batteries Fail
Rechargeable hand warmers use lithium-ion battery cells to generate and sustain heat. Unlike a chemical hand warmer that depletes and cools, a lithium-powered unit maintains temperature through battery discharge — and lithium-ion batteries can enter thermal runaway, a self-sustaining chain reaction that generates intense, uncontrollable heat. When this happens inside a hand warmer pressed against a person’s skin or held inside a glove, the results can be severe.
The OCOOPA hand warmers linked to CPSC’s action have adjustable heat settings, LED indicator lights on a hard plastic shell, and a silicone lanyard. “OCOOPA” is printed on the top of the units. The model number and a three-digit batch number are printed on the underside. About 1.5 million units were sold on Amazon.com, Ocoopa.com, Ocoopa.net, and Walmart.com from September 2018 through May 2026 for between $15 and $60.
What You Should Do
- If you own OCOOPA rechargeable hand warmers, stop using them and contact OCOOPA Direct for a full refund.
- Do not throw a defective lithium-ion battery or device in the trash, general recycling, or used battery recycling boxes. Defective lithium-ion batteries present a greater fire risk than standard batteries and must be disposed of at a designated hazardous waste facility.
- For any rechargeable hand warmer from an unknown brand, check SaferProducts.gov to verify it has not been flagged.
- Never place a malfunctioning, swelling, or unusually hot rechargeable hand warmer in a pocket or inside clothing.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
