Fatal domestic accident from a 1.5 volt dry-cell battery explosion as seen in lagos state university teaching hospital, ikeja, lagos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE To illustrate the danger of wrong disposal of used dry-cell batteries in Lagos, Nigeria. METHOD Information was extracted from the case notes of a patient who died following the explosion of a 1.5 volt dry-cell battery. No post-mortem was performed because the death certificate was inadvertently issued and the body was buried hurriedly according to Islamic rites. RESULTS A 53% burn involving the face, upper arm, trunk, and thigh was found on examination, in addition to inhalation injuries. CONCLUSION Dry-cell batteries are highly explosive when heated. There is a need to educate the populace about their explosive nature and to keep batteries away from children.