We’ve seen many incidents in the past where phone chargers have caused harm to those using them, even putting children at risk. This recent case was no different. A teenage girl reportedly died in her sleep after her damaged iPhone cable let out an electric shock while charging.
According to Asian Daily News, the incident took place in Vietnam just last month.
Here’s what transpired.
14-Year-Old Dies After Using Damaged iPhone Cable
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A 14-year-old girl in Vietnam died in her sleep after she left her iPhone charging with a damaged cable. She was using an iPhone 6 and connected it to charge before going to sleep.
Investigators reported that the teen’s iPhone had tears all over it. The cable she used had live wires exposed as it appeared to be worn out.
The damaged cable is also said to have been shorter than a regular iPhone cable. Investigations are underway to find whether or not a third party cable or a real one was used.
This incident has once again brought the debate of electronics and child safety to the center.
How To Prevent iPhone Electric Shock While Charging
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As we have become accustomed to using our phones everyday, we may tend to overlook the possible risks it could bring to us and our children.
While there are instances where we may just have to replay to an email or a chat message, it may be best to leave our phones alone while they’re charging.
Let us prevent any iPhone or smartphone electric shock from harming us by practising the following safe charging habits:
- Don’t use your phone while charging. Let your phone be for a moment and let it get to its full battery before you use it again. All it takes is a little patience and you can get back to scrolling again.
- Avoid charging your phone overnight. Make a habit of charging your phone often so that it always has enough battery to use when at night. This could even be beneficial to its battery life.
- Don’t leave your charging phone on the bed or near any heat source. Don’t forget that this is still electricity you’re dealing with and overheating would not only deplete its battery life but could even cause an explosion on rare occurrences.
- If your charging cable is damaged, it is best to buy a new one. If in some instances you can’t get a new cable, you should avoid using the old cable. This is especially if it already has exposed wiring or damaged charging heads.
- Make it a rule for your kids to not use phones while they’re charging. Whether you let your child use your phone for games or they already have one themselves, it is a good idea to remind them of these safe charging habits.
With reports from Nicholas Yong.
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