Stop ‘dangerous’ phone habit before going to bed | UK | News
Most people don’t think twice about where they leave their cell phone before falling asleep. However, with a new heatwave sweeping across the UK, fire safety experts are urging households to steer clear of the all-too-common charging mistake.
It may be tempting to put the phone on the bed while it charges, or even put it under a pillow to keep it close at hand. However, this can trap heat and create an unnecessary fire hazard right in the heart of your home. This risk is further increased in hot weather, especially if the bedroom temperature remains well above 25°C until the evening.
Accordingly Electrical Safety FirstSuch conditions mean that the phone battery has much less opportunity to cool naturally while charging, especially when buried under a duvet or pillow.
The charity advises that phones, tablets and laptops should always be charged on a hard, flat surface where heat can dissipate freely. It warns against using chargers on beds, sofas or other soft furnishings as they restrict airflow and are highly flammable.
Meanwhile, the London Fire Brigade has repeatedly warned against charging phones under pillows or duvets. He notes that bedding can trap heat around lithium-ion batteries and chargers, significantly increasing the risk of overheating if there is a fault in the battery or charging cable.
The vast majority of modern smartphones are equipped with lithium-ion batteries that naturally generate heat during charging. Although these devices are built with numerous safety mechanisms, damaged batteries, counterfeit chargers, or inadequate ventilation can significantly increase the risk of overheating.
Instead of charging the phone on the bed, experts highly recommend placing it on a nightstand, desk, or other sturdy, non-flammable surface that allows adequate airflow.
They also recommend using the manufacturer’s original charger wherever possible and unplugging devices once they’re fully charged rather than leaving them connected overnight.
If a phone becomes unusually hot during charging, begins to swell, or emits a strange smell, it should be carefully disconnected and not used again until it has been checked.
While battery fires are still relatively rare, experts warn that avoiding seemingly harmless habits like charging devices under the bed can greatly reduce the risk, especially during extended periods of hot weather.
