If it has hydrogen fluoride in it, you’ll be in sad shape whether you inhale or not, according to the Wikipedia article for hydrogen fluoride. Of course, breathing it will make matters much worse:
We should all remember that this happened to a member over at CPF. There was a link here not long ago. Literally ruined the guys life. He’s still messed up bad after couple years. Permanent irreparable damage to his system forever folks. Like guns, lithiums demand user respect.
Chadvone,you are what I’m talking about. Missing the entire point of the post,and you don’t know me
DB Custom, again no, incorrect. IT WAS NOT me who was banned and your words are obviously targeted at who you think I am, so I’ll over look most them.
As for me not using a multi meter, I choose not to. Not anyone’s problem but mine. I have good cells and charger, and don’t use the cells long enough to drop anywhere near low levels. In fact, once I charge them, 2 of 3 bars light up almost instantly.
I am blown out of my skin right now.
I simply can’t get over all the members thinking I’m against giving proper care advice. Maybe you all need to go back and read my very first post.
Simply astonishing that everyone is reading things I haven’t once posted here. Wow.
That was a joke.
I feel some are too sensitive 
Yep; point with hydrogen fluoride is that even if you think you escaped — if you were around a li-ion cell fire, but you didn’t notice any immediate symptoms — the delayed symptoms can still get you.
That’s why the doctors want to see you right away — not tomorrow — after a li-ion fire.
https://www.google.com/search?q=hydrogen+fluoride+delay
What we want to hear from people new here asking questions is that they know all that stuff already, and want to move on to details about which cell and which charger for which flashlight.
I’m having trouble envisioning your problem, people have given anecdotes, asked you questions, asked for examples, what is it you want?
I reread your first post, and i see no problem with a standard boiler plate link for newbies, go ahead and write one and we can critique and improve upon it if necessary
I think he got mad because somebody on the Internet disagreed with him. Gotta set them straight! 
You are most definitely being unsafe and it’s going to bite you in the ass one day, and when it happens I won’t laugh but I will definitely say “told you so.” You really don’t have the first clue what you’re dealing with there. So, as a companion to my earlier diagnosis, I think I’ll add a healthy dose of Dunning-Kruger, too. Yes you are adding the boilerplate disclaimers about “this is just the way I do it…” but someone who doesn’t know any better will read what you’ve written and think it’s OK for them to do the same. And they will get hurt too.
“Doctor, heal thyself.”
That’s probably the best idea in this thread yet, sticky a lithium ion safety thread and we can all add to it.
I’m not the OP, but I’m foolish enough to take a run at a first draft of a Li Ion batter safety thread. Heck, I asked for one in post #47 in this thread.
I appreciate the link to CRX’s thread that unknown00101 provided but that wasn’t quite what I was searching for. I agree with Chicken Drumstick
But I’m willing to give it a try - since it seems that it hasn’t been done and could benefit this community.
And I sorta have a start on it. I created a file when I started reading BLF and have been adding info to the file as I come across it in the different threads. And I have no problem accepting criticism and suggestions.
I’ll start it tomorrow (Thur) and post something by Fri, or Sat at the latest.
Mr.Scott
Here’s my contribution: BLF decision - #47 by 1dash1
1dash1 , You wrote a great guide there .
You should start a thread titled ‘A beginners guide to Lithium-ion batteries ’ .
I would bump that thread every time it fell off the front page .
Apologies, I missed the gag.
I would like members to stop implying I’m against giving newbies liion care advice. I never once said that.
All this post was meant to be about was the approach towards giving such advice. But I can’t seem to get people to see this.
So there is a 100% chance of a lithium ion fire / vent ?
I highly doubt that because I choose personally not to use a DMM, I will have issues. And to say I don’t have the first clue “what I’m dealing with” is totally incorrect,I am none-the-less able to read. Its quite clear I know exactly what I own and use, and the potential dangers. Choosing not to use a DMM doesn’t dictate anything - let alone my knowledge of liion. I use single cell lights (C8’s), and a parallel Courui which I use protected cell in. I have 3x Panasonic NCR18650A and 3x Sanyo protected 2600mah. And use an i4.
If you can honestly without any sliver of doubt tell me my gear and useage is 100% going to end in disaster, I may consider a DMM. I know crapfire cells in a in-series light, and one of those eBay $2 single bay chargers will be a recipie for disaster. But my current situation doesn’t dictate I want a DMM.
Thanks 1dash1. Very good post!
I’m on the fence on an approach. There is the “”just the facts, mam”:just the facts ma'am - YouTube approach with a simple list/bullets and then there is the more verbose approach explaining why things should or shouldn’t be done. Not sure which way to go yet.
Mr. Scott, I’m sorry I missed your suggestion, but I differ where you agree with Chicken Drumstick.
I firmly believe that there is a minimum safe standard for using lithium ion batteries. We can create it, and it will probably seem extreme to each of us in at least one way, but following it completely should result in safe usage with the rare manufacturer defect causing the rare exception.
EDIT: I suppose we’d all be likely to deviate from it in some way, but then we couldn’t really blame the guide or the forum, could we 
OneTrickPony,
When I read Chicken Drumstick’s post I was thinking about the “gray areas”. It is safer to drive with the radio off, but is it unsafe to drive with the radio on?
I hope there may be a large percentage (95?) of safety guidelines that all can get behind, but there will always be some guidelines (5?) that people haggle over. But if there is a central place to direct people towards to get that 95% and see the discussions on the other 5% then we’ve achieved something.
We’re on the same page, well said.
I have been using Li-ion batteries for several years, and I don’t use a DMM. I have used the cheap trustfire batteries with no issues even when I drain them down to the point the light won’t light up anymore. I have screwed up by trying to solder a tip on the positive where the battery vented, but I am still alive.
Your monniker is most appropriate.
Say, you’re not related to this guy, are you?
You wrote thi about not uing a DMM.
I want to check if I follow the right procedure because
1 I do not use the DMM anymore since the Liitokala Engigeer Lii-300 is in use.
it tells the voltage and mR. If I understand correctly this mR means resistance of the cells.
Sometimes a cell will give a value of 100+ here, but placing it again makes it go down so the way it is placed can play a role here.
2 When I use multicell series lights I measure the cells and use two cells with the same mR and voltage.
3 only use KeepPower and Panasonic cells for longer period of times
4 the budget cells I have I deem not safe, I use them to chec new lights just to see if they are working fr 10 seconds at the most since the good cells are inside the safe housing of flashlights.
5 the cells not in useare charged to 3.8V and put in plastic battery boxes, 1 per box. these boxes are placed inside a metal cookie box hat is placed in a drawer of an oldcabinet (wood) that is placed whre no sun is reahing it.
6 for parallel lightsI use cells with the same voltage but no not check the mR (and finding 2 with the same is easier then 4)
7 flashlights not used but ready, a couple on the kitchen fridge for example, are loaded with the Panasonics charged to 4V
8 flashlights not used but ready in a place with very fluctuating temperatures, the flashlight in de car for example, are loaded with Alkaline cells sine when I want to use it will always have a 18650 light in the pocket. These i check every week for leaking.
9 the lights without undervoltage protection get their cells measured weekly, in the Liitokala charger and brought to 4V if needed.
10 The whole family knows about the risks
A when a flashlight would start to become hot place it outside on concrete
B when a flashlight becomes too hot too handle throw it outside on the gravel covered driveway
C When a flashlight starts making hissing sound, leave the room immediately holding breath try to open windows or doors when doing so
D don’t be a hero, any damages will be dealt with later, safety of the body is first priority.
(one can hear the opening line of crazy russian hacker copied at least once a day (also because it is fun to imitate him)
I thought this would cover the needs, but the strong remark about using a DMM made me second guess, so please inform me if I make mistakes.