14 DAY TRIAL // A Chinese daily newspaper recently reported that a man died after the battery of his cellphone exploded, causing him severe damage to a major artery in his neck. The paper did not unveil the identity of the man, but stated that he was a shop assistant at a computer shop in Guangzhou, China.
According to a co-worker, the man had changed the battery of his phone with a new one, which exploded after just being charged. Chinese authorities haven't yet determined the phone's model or that of the battery, and reports say that they are also investigating whether the device wasn't counterfeit.
The incident would be the ninth in a series of similar cellphone explosions recorded in China since 2002. Back in June 2007, another young man, Xiao Jinpeng, died after his mobile phone exploded while being kept in a chest pocket. The local authorities discovered that the phone crashed due to the heat of the iron mill he was working at.
The battery included Lithium, which is reported to be susceptible of explosion in case it is overcharged or exposed to heat. Nokia and Motorola, two of the leading mobile phone makers in the world, suggested back then that the faulty batteries in China might be counterfeit.
Shin Min Daily News, the paper that reports the recent incident, also published a list of useful tips that could help people avoid having the battery of their phones explode, including:
- Always use original batteries. Be sure that batteries by the manufacturer are meant for your mobile phone. - Never modify your phone - Always use original battery chargers - Do not expose your mobile phone to high temperatures, and avoid exposing it to direct sunlight - Avoid long phone conversations - Do not make or answer calls when the phone is charging - Try to keep your phone in a bag instead of in a pocket - Do not use damaged batteries.