Electrolux vacuum explodes & Recall

[alleycat8675309]

I just saw this in the news today. I'm not sure if this is the appropriate spot to post this, but from the link to the CBC site, I can see generic blue batteries similar to the ones I use. Please use your discretion to delete or move this post as you require.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09169.html
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...lectrolux.html
http://www.stickvacrecall.com/
http://recallroundup.blogspot.com/20...called-by.html

Some details I couldn't find but tried looking for are:
- what kind of batteries (chemistry)?
- what are the charging instructions.

[buickid]

Battery says 9.6V, so I want to say its NiCd/MH (8 cells x1.2V). The pictures kinda look like Sub-C cells. I'm willing to bet it uses a trickle charger like all of the cheap handheld vacuums I've owned have...

Scary stuff.