Mums and dads, if you’re the kind of person who is not without a mobile phone at any given day, this story may impel you to finally take a little bit of a breather and put your phone down.
Even for a while.
Or at least while it is charging.
In Malaysia, a 30-year-old woman from Kuala Lumpur has died after being electrocuted by her mobile phone.
According to Malay Mail Online, Suhana Mohamad was using it while it was plugged in its charger.
The report said that her husband, a police officer with the Malaysian Special Branch Counter-Terrorism unit, was sleeping when it happened.
When he awoke, he rushed her to the hospital, but she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Because the victim’s family refused to give further details, it remains unclear how her husband woke up and was alerted of the electrocution.
Cases such as this are rare, but do happen: They are often attributed to using off-brands and knockoffs to charge devices. Knockoff batteries are also known for exploding when overcharged.
Last year, a Hong Kong woman was sent to the hospital complaining of numbness in her fingers after using her phone while it was charging.
In 2013 a man from Beijing slipped into a coma after a charging iPhone 4 shocked him; his sister found him convulsing on the floor.
The same year, a Chinese woman, also using an off-brand charger, died answering a call on her iPhone 5, immediately collapsing on the floor.
Take your phone’s battery running out as a sign that you should put it down and do something else while it charges.
Reconnect with the physical world, engage your children in a conversation, do some chores, read a book, there are countless options for you to do that doesn’t involve technology.
Taking some time off away from the screen, even for a few minutes, does wonders not only for your mind and body. Your eyes will even thank your it.
If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them with us.