A safety incident report records what happened; it is not an emergency response or a diagnosis. If someone needs urgent medical attention or there is an active fire, seek help first. Once it is safe, you can prepare a factual account for the appropriate reporting route.
The FDA accepts reports of suspected health, safety and quality problems involving tobacco products through its consumer safety reporting guidance. You do not need to establish the cause before describing an unexpected event.
Write a timeline that separates observation from uncertainty
Use a short chronological note: when you first noticed a problem, what you observed, what you did next, and whether anyone was injured. Distinguish a time you recorded from an estimate made later. If you do not remember a detail, leave it unknown rather than constructing a precise sequence.
For example, an illustrative note might say: “I noticed an unusual smell, stopped using the item and moved away.” That is an observation. “The battery circuit failed” is an explanation that may require investigation. A report can be useful without that explanation.
Collect product information from records, not risky inspection
For battery fires or explosions, FDA asks for identifying information about the device and battery, where it was purchased, and whether it was modified or used differently from its intended use. Its battery incident guidance sets out these details.
Look first at receipts, photographs already taken, packaging and previous correspondence. Label each detail with its source. A receipt may identify a model but not a serial number; do not treat one as proof of the other. Do not dismantle, recharge or recreate an incident to fill a gap in the record.
- Observed event and approximate time
- Product identifiers available from existing records
- What is known and what remains uncertain
- Actions taken after the event
- Supporting records that can be shared safely
Review the destination and your personal information
Open the reporting route from the official FDA page rather than a link supplied by an unknown sender. Read the current form instructions before entering information. FDA says contact information is optional, although it can assist with follow-up. Its reporting service does not provide individual medical advice.
Keep a copy of your own account and any confirmation the service provides. If you later discover a correction, retain the original note and clearly distinguish the new information. Avoid publishing private medical records, payment details or another person’s identifying information on a public website.
Keep reporting, support and disposal separate
A product support conversation has a different purpose from an official safety report. Do not assume one automatically submits the other. Likewise, evidence collection must not delay emergency help or safe disposal. The household disposal guide explains how to confirm a receiving program for an intact discarded device.
A clear safety incident report states the facts you know, identifies the source of each detail and leaves uncertain causes uncertain. Preserve records when it is safe, and let the reporting authority’s current instructions determine the next step.
