Baofeng UV-5R Documentation page 14

The (Chinese) Radio Documentation Project
Storage
Fully charge your battery before long time storage in order to prevent damage from over-
discharge.
To avoid severe capacity degradation of your battery while in long time storage, please
cycle the battery at least every six(6) months.
Store your batteries in a cool and dry place, never above normal room temperatures.
6
If your battery has become wet, remove it from the radio, wipe it dry with a towel
and put it in a plastic bag with a handful of dry rice. Tie the bag up and let it sit
over night. The rice will absorb any remaining moisture in the battery.
This method is only effective against minor splashes (light rain for instance). A
soaked radio may very well be beyond repair.
Initial setup