WASHINGTON-The Consumer Product Safety Commission and CTIA Friday released a list of recommendations for mobile-phone users regarding the use of their handsets and batteries.
“It is increasingly important for consumers to follow guidelines on the maintenance of wireless phones and batteries,” said CPSC and CTIA in a joint statement. “Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries, which are commonly found in today’s cellular phones, have a lot of energy in a small package. Li-Ion batteries are more sensitive to physical stress than alkaline batteries found in toys and flashlights and need to be treated with more care.”
CPSC and CTIA recommend the following:
- Do not use incompatible cell-phone batteries and chargers;
- Do not permit a battery out of the phone to contact metal objects, such as coins, keys or jewelry;
- Do not crush, puncture or put a high degree of pressure on the battery as this can cause an internal short-circuit, resulting in overheating;
- Avoid dropping a cell phone;
- Do not place a phone in areas that may get very hot, such as on or near a cooking surface, cooking appliance, iron or radiator; and/or
- Do not get your phone or battery wet.
CPSC, CTIA and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers have formed a working group to come up with industrywide standards.
“The work we’re doing in developing battery standards and our cooperation with U.S. Customs and law enforcement agencies regarding counterfeit operations are clear illustrations of the industry’s dedication to proactively and voluntarily recognizing its important role in serving its customers,” said CTIA President Steve Largent.
In January 2004, the CPSC recalled batteries in phones manufactured for Kyocera Wireless Corp. The recall was prompted by four reports received by Kyocera of battery failures, including one minor burn injury. The CPSC said the recalled batteries can short circuit and erupt with force or pose burn hazards to consumers.
Last August, an exploding phone sent a California teen to the hospital emergency room. The teen was using a Verizon Wireless LG Electronics Co. Ltd. phone. In a Sept. 7, 2004, letter to the teen’s parents, Korea-based LG said a probe concluded the battery at issue was a counterfeit, and therefore, the company was not responsible for the accident.
