How often do you fall asleep with your cellphone laying somewhere in your bed? Many of us scroll through social media accounts and our favorite websites after we lay down, just one last time before calling it a night. In fact, over half of Americans sleep with their phones within reach.
That makes it easier for the 80% who check their cellphones within 10 minutes of waking up!
You may be thinking, So what? Well, it turns out that sleeping with your cellphone could be dangerous.
The 33rd precinct of the NYPD tweeted a warning, urging people not to put cellphones under their pillows when sleeping or charging the device. Four pictures were part of the tweet, photos of pillows with holes burned into them after the cellphones underneath overheated and caught fire.
Here are a couple of images from the message:
A photo tweeted by the 33rd precinct of the NYPD to warn the public of the dangers of leaving a cell phone underneath a pillow.
A photo tweeted by the 33rd precinct of the NYPD to warn the public of the dangers of leaving a cell phone underneath a pillow.
Warnings About Cellphones While Sleeping
This isn't the first time we've heard this warning. In 2014, a 13-year-old Texas girl was awoken in the night to find her cellphone smoldering on the other side of her pillow. Her phone had ignited, and the fire melted the phone and burned her pillow, bedsheet, and mattress.
Check out the video below to see the result:
This girl had a Samsung phone, but no matter what type of cell phone you have, leaving it under your pillows or blankets at night can put you at risk. Samsung does include a warning in their user guide cautioning people not to cover their cell phones with bedding or other material that could restrict air flow, as it could cause a fire. That warning includes clothing.
An 8th grade student in Maine was carrying around a cell phone in her pocket when it suddenly made a popping noise and caught fire. Students reportedly noticed smoke coming from the girl's pants, and she was taken to a health care center where she was treated for moderate burns. This case involved an iPhone, so regardless of the type of phone you have, take precautions when it comes to where you keep your cell phone.
Here's the short explanation: the incident usually occurs when either the battery or the charger is not the original product.
To keep yourself safe from having your cellphone suddenly ignite, here are a few tips:
- Don't use third party batteries. Only use the manufacturer's original battery or those from well-known replacement brands.
- Avoid leaving your phone in a hot area, especially if it's charging.
- Charge your battery when it gets down to 50%. Some can be damaged by low voltage.
So you might want to consider performing your last scroll through social media before your head hits the pillow. Safety first, cell phone users.
