"A Near-Fatal Mistake: The Dangerous Habit You Should Never Do in Bed"

Necklace Caught in Phone Charger Gap
8-Year-Old in U.S. Suffers Burns from Electric Shock
"Avoid Charging Electronic Devices in Bed"

An 8-year-old boy in the United States suffered an electric shock accident after falling asleep in bed while charging his smartphone. The boy's chain necklace became caught in the gap between the charger and the power strip. He narrowly managed to remove the necklace and survived, but sustained severe burns and is currently receiving hospital treatment.

According to People magazine in the United States, Lorenzo Lopez, an 8-year-old living in Kansas, suffered an electric shock accident in bed on November 20 (local time).

At the time of the accident, Lorenzo had fallen asleep in bed with his smartphone plugged into a charger. The charger was loosely connected to a power strip, and as the child tossed and turned in his sleep, the chain necklace he was wearing became caught between the power strip and the charger, causing the electric shock.

Lorenzo felt a burning sensation on his neck and tried to call out, but was unable to seek help while the current was running through him. He was only able to call for help from his family after he managed to remove the necklace himself.

Describing the incident, Lorenzo said, "It was really scary. I was confused and thought I might die." He added, "The hospital is treating me well. I enjoy talking to people while I'm here."

An 8-year-old boy in the United States suffered an electric shock accident after falling asleep while charging his smartphone. GoFundMe

Lorenzo's mother shared on social media that her son had received a skin graft and was still undergoing inpatient treatment. She added, "The medical staff told us that if he hadn't removed the necklace, he could have died from electrocution," and urged parents to make sure children do not use electronic devices in bed or fall asleep while charging them.

Charging a smartphone on a bed, blanket, or pillow can also lead to other safety accidents besides electric shock. According to Firechief Global, a UK-based fire safety company, heat generated by a charging smartphone can become trapped in poorly ventilated spaces such as under a pillow or blanket, causing the device's temperature to rise rapidly. This can lead to battery overheating or charger damage, and in severe cases, even fire.

Smartphones and tablets that use lithium-ion batteries can catch fire or explode if they overheat or are overcharged. Firechief Global emphasized that although the latest smartphones are equipped with overcharge prevention systems, it is best to unplug the device after charging and to avoid charging phones near flammable materials such as beds, sofas, or blankets.