An electrical safety educator, Patrick Okoye, has warned that keeping phones on the bed while charging them while asleep increases the risk of a fire outbreak, as a result of heat emanating from the phone.
Penpushing reports that Okoye gave the caution note during an electrical safety awareness programme on Saturday in Awka, and therefore advised Nigerians to avoid keeping their phones on mattresses, pillows, or under blankets while charging them.
The engineer emphasized that such will cause devices to overheat and increasing the likelihood of fires, adding that the risk increases during the rainy season due to frequent thunderstorms, lightning, and an unstable power supply, which often result in electrical surges.
“Many people do not realise that charging a phone on a bed restricts heat dissipation, making the device more likely to overheat. During the rainy season, frequent power fluctuations and lightning-related surges further increase the danger; simple safety habits can save lives and protect property,” he said.
Penpushing further reports that Okoye advised residents to charge phones only on hard, flat, and non-flammable surfaces, such as tables or desks, and to disconnect chargers once devices are fully charged.
The electrical safety educator equally cautioned against the use of damaged charging cables, counterfeit chargers and overloaded extension sockets, stressing that electrical safety should become a daily habit in homes.
Penpushing also reports that he called on schools, churches, community leaders and youth organisations to intensify public enlightenment campaigns on electrical safety, stating that sustained awareness remained one of the most effective ways to prevent electrical fires and protect lives and property.
“Our goal is to prevent avoidable accidents. People should never sleep with a phone charging on the bed or under a pillow. Always charge your phone on a hard surface, away from flammable materials. Safety begins with simple decisions’, he said.
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