Many of us may not give it a second thought when we plug in our phones at night before falling asleep. During a recent fire prevention assembly at Watervliet Elementary School, firefighters cautioned the simple act of charging your smartphone could present a fire risk depending on the circumstances.
Lt. Tim Delisle from the Watervliet Fire Department advised elementary students that it is not safe to charge your phone in bed or under a pillow. That is because without proper air flow, the lithium-ion batteries in phones (and other devices) can overheat when charging, which could result in sheets and blankets catching fire. Lt. Delisle explained that phones should be charged on hard surfaces only, such as a desk, nightstand, dresser or countertop.
The theme of Fire Prevention Week (October 6-10) — Charge into Fire Safety™ — highlighted the dangers of rechargeable batteries to help students understand how they can play an active role in staying safe when using or charging everyday devices, such as phones, iPads, and laptops. Lt. Delisle made a point that even the trendy electric scooters that are popular with children and teens can present a fire risk when brought inside. “If the scooter’s battery ignites while charging in a hallway or near a door, the fire could block an exit and prevent you from escaping,” he cautioned.
During the assembly, the firefighters reminded the students of other fire safety practices, such as getting out of the house and calling 9-1-1 when fire breaks out, the proper use of fire extinguishers, and making sure the batteries in smoke detectors are changed every six months (fall and spring).
Students also had the opportunity to ask the firefighters questions about their work and explore a fire truck parked outside the school.