How safe is your phone?

Cell phones have been around for a few years now and we all enjoy the convenience of making calls while being away from home.  The best part of course is that cell phones don’t only just make calls anymore as they can send emails, surf the Internet, take pictures or record videos.

As a result of all the wonderful things that we use our cell phones for it never really occurs to us that constant use can pose problems.

Problems with Cell Phone Use

One of the problems with cell phone use is that it can cause accidents. Persons who try to text or answer their phone while operating a vehicle are distracted and make errors in judgement. This leads to tragedy as they are not able to make the quick decisions needed to avoid accidents.

Pedestrians who use their phone while walking can also cause accidents as they do not pay enough attention to their surroundings.

Another issue is the security risks posed by placing sensitive material on your cell phone.  Recently there has been a lot of concern about personal messages being released to social networking sites.  Of course there are privacy settings that can prevent this from being done but few people are aware of how to use them to safeguard their information.

Health Issues!

On May 31, 2011 the World Health Organization/International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the electromagnetic radiation from cell phones as possibly carcinogenic to humans based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with use of mobile phones.

Radiation risk for prolonged cell phone use has been a point of debate among some medical professionals.  Even if the risk is minimal, it is a good idea not to place the phone at your head for long periods of time. It might be a better idea to use a headset to reduce any risk of radiation from the cell phone.

Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times. Do not keep it near your body at night such as under the pillow, particularly if you are pregnant.

It is especially not recommended to use your phone while it is charging. There have been recent incidents where phones have actually exploded when being charged so it pays to be careful!

So how safe is your cell phone?

What’s your take? Let me hear from you!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner Online Writer

Tags: cell phone safety