An electrical safety educator, Mr Patrick Okoye, has advised Nigerians to avoid keeping their phones on the bed to charge it while asleep saying that it increases the risk of fire incidents. He gave the advice during an electrical safety awareness programme on Saturday June 27 in Awka, Anambra state.
Okoye said placing mobile phones on mattresses, pillows or under blankets while charging traps heat, causing devices to overheat and increasing the likelihood of fire incidents. According to him, the risk becomes greater during the rainy season due to frequent thunderstorms, lightning and unstable power supply, which often result in electrical surges.
Okoye advised residents to charge phones only on hard, flat and non-flammable surfaces, and to disconnect chargers once devices are fully charged. He also cautioned against the use of damaged charging cables, counterfeit chargers and overloaded extension sockets.
The engineer called on schools, churches, community leaders and youth organisations to intensify public enlightenment campaigns on electrical safety. He stated that sustained awareness remained one of the most effective ways to prevent electrical fires and protect lives and property.
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