I’m a firefighter and that’s why you shouldn’t charge your phone overnight

A FIREFIGHTER has urged phone owners to reconsider always charging their phones overnight.

The fire protection expert said there was a much safer alternative.

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We’ve all charged our phones overnight, but a firefighter with Britain’s Kent Fire & Rescue warns against the habit.

“We get a lot of questions here at Kent Fire & Rescue about why you shouldn’t charge phones overnight,” said the fire expert warned in a viral TikTok video.

“So here’s why.

“Number one, you can’t smell anything when you’re sleeping, so if it starts to burn, the fire won’t wake you up.

“Number two, it only takes three puffs to knock you out.

“Number three: A lot of people have cheap or faulty phone chargers, but even real chargers have been known to start fires.

“If you can, our advice is to charge your phone while you’re there and awake.

“It’s a lot safer from the fire department’s point of view.”

Of course, it’s not always practical to only charge your phone during the day.

So if you need to charge overnight, there are some mistakes to avoid — and tips to stay safe.

Watch out for dodgy chargers

Apple supplies your iPhone with a charger and sells replacement parts through its store.

However, be very careful when using third-party cables or adapters.

These could be made cheaply and without proper safety standards.

“Charging with such adapters could pose a risk of death or injury,” Apple says.

Speak with The sun Earlier this year, Giuseppe Capanna of UK charity Electrical Safety First shared some of the telltale signs your appliance could be a death trap.

“Counterfeit iPhone chargers are intentionally made to look identical or similar to a genuine product, usually with the aim of deceiving consumers,” Guiseppe said.

“Counterfeit products often consist of inferior components that put the buyer at risk.

“They pose a particularly insidious threat to the consumer, undermining legitimate manufacturers and retailers, while often posing a risk of fire, severe electrocution or even electrocution.”

Choose a safe place

You should also be careful when charging your iPhone overnight.

If you usually fall asleep in bed with it on, make sure it’s unplugged.

And definitely don’t make a habit of keeping it under your pillow while it’s plugged in.

Never leave your iPhone under or in anything while it is connected.

“Don’t sleep on a device, power adapter, or wireless charger, or place it under a blanket, pillow, or your body when it’s plugged into a power source,” Apple warns.

“Keep your iPhone, power adapter, and any wireless charger in a well-ventilated area when using or charging.”

Watch out for water

This may sound obvious, but be very careful with water when charging your iPhone.

If you’ve recently had a casual drink and the surface is wet, or you’re charging in the kitchen near a splash zone, you could be at risk.

Also, be careful when using a cord that is damaged, broken, frayed, etc.

“Using a damaged cable or charger, or charging when wet, could result in fire, electric shock, injury, or damage to iPhone or other property,” Apple warns.

If you have a damaged cable or adapter, simply replace it.

Do not be tempted to continue using a worn cable as this could be very dangerous.

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