I’m a firefighter and here’s why you shouldn’t charge your phone overnight

A FIREFIGHTER has urged phone owners to reconsider always charging their handsets overnight.

The fire safety expert said that there’s a significantly safer alternative.

Consider charging your phone in the daytime, say firefightersCredit: TikTok / Kent Fire & Rescue

We’ve all charged our phones overnight, but a firefighter at the UK’s Kent Fire & Rescue is warning against the habit.

“We get a lot of questions here at Kent Fire & Rescue about why you shouldn’t charge phones overnight,” the fire expert warned in a viral TikTok video.

“So here are the reasons why.

“Number one: you can’t smell anything when you’re asleep, so if it starts to burn, the fire won’t wake you up.

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“Number two: it only takes three breaths of smoke to knock you unconscious.

“Number three: lots of people have cheap or faulty phone chargers, but even genuine ones have been known to start fires.

“If you’re able to, we advise you to charge your phone when you’re there and awake.

“From a fire service point of view, it’s much safer.”

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Of course, it’s not always practical to only charge your phone in the day.

So if you have to charge overnight, there are some mistakes to avoid – and tips to stay safe.

Watch out for dodgy chargers

Apple supplies your iPhone with a charger, and sells replacements through its store.

But be very wary of using third-party cables or adapters.

These might be manufactured cheaply and without proper safety standards.

“Charging with such adapters could pose a risk of death or injury,” Apple says.

Speaking to The Sun earlier this year, Giuseppe Capanna, of the UK charity Electrical Safety First, shared some of the telltale signs that your gadget could be a death trap.

“Fake iPhone chargers are deliberately made to look identical or similar to a genuine product usually with a view to deceive the consumers,” Guiseppe said.

“Counterfeit products are often made up of substandard components which leave the buyer at risk.

“They present a particularly insidious threat to the consumer, undermining legitimate manufacturers and retailers whilst often posing a risk of fire, serious electric shock or even electrocution.”

Choose a safe place

You should also be careful when charging your iPhone overnight.

If you usually fall asleep with it in bed, make sure it’s not plugged in.

And certainly don’t make a habit of keeping it under your pillow while plugged in.

In fact, never leave your iPhone under or inside anything while plugged in.

“Don’t sleep on a device, power adapter, or wireless charger, or place them under a blanket, pillow, or your body, when it’s connected to a power source,” warns Apple.

“Keep your iPhone, the power adapter, and any wireless charger in a well-ventilated area when in use or charging.”

Watch out for water

This might sound obvious, but be very wary of water when charging your iPhone.

If you’ve recently had a drink on the side and the surface is wet, or you’re charging in the kitchen near a splash zone, you could be at risk.

Similarly, be careful if you’re using a cable that is damaged, broken, frayed and so on.

“Using damaged cables or chargers, or charging when moisture is present, can cause fire, electric shock, injury, or damage to iPhone or other property,” Apple warns.