Michael Sathre, 13, stood stunned, his ears ringing, hand gushing blood and body covered in black ash, just after his cell phone exploded like a bomb. Cell phone fragments were flung everywhere -- some of which were lodged into the ceiling of his home, and some of which hit Michael between the eyes. All of this happened in a split second.
Over the past two years, federal safety officials have received 83 reports of cell phones exploding or catching fire, usually because of incompatible, faulty or counterfeit batteries or chargers. Burns to the face, neck, leg and hip are among the dozens of injury reports the agency has received.
U.S. phone makers note that in a country with some 170 million cell phone users, the number of accidents is really low. Some consumer advocates say the cause goes beyond bad batteries making their way to the market. They point to the increasing pressure on battery and phone makers to fit more capabilities into small instruments. “If you’re cramming more and more power in a small space, what you’re making is a small bomb,” said Carl Hilliard, president of the California-based Wireless Consumers Alliance, which has been tracking incidents of cell phone fires and explosions.
- Keep cell phone batteries from overheating -
When removing battery, avoid putting it in contact with metal, such as keys or coins.
Don’t expose battery to water or extreme temperatures.
Avoid crushing battery or dropping it against hard surfaces, especially when fully charged.
If bought separately, make sure battery and charger are compatible with the phone model. Check that components are not manufactured for phones sold in other countries.
Buy parts from an authorized dealer, carrier or legitimate outlet, rather than secondhand dealers or off the Internet. This decreases the chance components will be incompatible or poorly made.
