Apps and games on phones are not the only source of danger to children, the phone itself may pose a real threat. In a serious incident in Sin El Fil, a 9-year-old girl, Nour Charlie Al-Asil, almost suffered a tragedy had it not been for her quick wits. Nour was using the phone normally when she felt unusual heat accompanied by a burning smell, so she threw the phone on the ground before it exploded moments later and burned completely, so she escaped without any injury. This incident comes a few days after a similar incident in the town of Zararia, where the child Mahdi Hashem was exposed to a similar incident, which highlights the danger of electronic devices spread in the hands of children, so how do we protect them?
Signs indicating danger of explosion
There are signs that warn that the phone or electronic device is about to explode, including sudden excessive heat during use or charging, the appearance of a burning smell or a chemical odor resembling smoke or burning plastic, in addition to obvious swelling of the battery or phone body, or a very slow and sudden stop of the device during charging. Leakage of a liquid substance from the battery is also considered an indication of a dangerous chemical reaction, and this may be accompanied by sparks, strange electrical sounds from the device, or an increase in the temperature of the charger or charging cable.
How do we act when danger signs appear?When you notice any of these signs, you must act immediately to protect children by disconnecting the phone from the charger and placing it in a safe place away from their reach and any flammable materials, while avoiding touching the battery or damaged parts of the phone to avoid burns or electric shocks. We should not attempt to open or repair the phone ourselves, but rather resort to a specialist or authorized maintenance center to repair or replace it. It is also necessary to educate children about the danger of handling devices when any abnormal signs appear and teach them to stop immediately and inform adults directly. It is also recommended to monitor children’s use of phones periodically, set times for supervised use, make sure to purchase approved devices that comply with international safety standards, avoid counterfeit devices or of unknown origin, charge using the original chargers included with the device, and not leave the phone on the charger for long periods or while sleeping.
Following these simple procedures and continuous follow-up protects children from risks, and highlights the importance of family awareness of the safety of electronic devices that have become part of their daily lives.
Source:
Lebanon Special 24
