Put Your Feet In the Water; Not Your Phone - Keeping Electronics Safe

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posted by Ryan Whittington on July 06, 2011

As a professional providing Private Duty Home Care , I am reminded more and more that we all rely on technology in every day life and business.  With just a phone call away, phones and electronic devices can allow family members who care for their relatives and loved ones, to enjoy the many pleasures the warmer weather brings.  Summer time in St. Louis is a great time to enjoy the many water parks, lakes and streams we are so fortunate to have.  Just dont forget to protect those items in your pocket.

By: Michelle Groves

Many area seniors and their families will head to lakes and pools to enjoy the summer with sunscreen, towels, a cell phone and other waterside must-haves to keep them protected and connected. It’s helpful to know the tips that might help the phone survive a dive. Your cell phone can help manage your life so you want to keep it safe. Even today’s cutting-edge devices like U.S. Cellular’s HTC Merge and mobile tablets aren’t immune to water damage.

A little prevention can go a long way. It is recommended that you avoid any wet cell phone woes by placing it in a secure waterproof or plastic bag. However, accidents happen, and U.S. Cellular has some simple tips that can help improve your chances of reviving you cell phone if it gets wet.

• Step 1 – If your phone doesn’t turn off when it gets wet, power it down immediately. Once the power is off, remove the battery.
• Step 2 – Grab a towel and remove as much excess water from the phone as you can. You should remove any skins, covers or faceplates. If you have a flip phone, you should open it up so air can reach the keypad.
• Step 3 –The best thing to do is to leave the phone powered off for a few days to give the internal circuitry a chance to dry out. Over the course of a few days, turn the phone over several times so that any water trapped inside can make it to the surface.
• Step 4 – It is very tempting to try and speed up the drying process with things like hairdryers, microwaves, space heaters, ovens, etc. However, the intensity of the heat may cause further damage to the phone’s internal circuitry. Placing your phone by a fan is a much better alternative to help the phone dry out.
• Step 5 – Once you replace the battery, push the ON button. If the phone turns on, you can breathe a sigh of relief, though it may be only temporary. Moisture damage signs may take time and symptoms might appear several weeks or months later. Check your keypad, as keys that stick or don’t work all the time are signs of permanent damage.
• Step 6 – Remember that your service provider’s technicians might be able to help. U.S. Cellular customers can always bring their phones into any location for assistance and service. U.S. Cellular stores also hold regular device workshops for anyone to come in and ask questions and to learn more about their phones.

Extreme temperatures can also be harmful to your phone, so don’t leave it in your car on a hot day. As you return to your car and turn on the air conditioner, the change in temperature could also create condensation within your phone. That kind of moisture or heavy sweating can hamper the computer inside your phone.

By taking these tips into consideration, your cell phone will keep you connected instead of being a poolside distraction.

Michelle Groves is U.S. Cellular’s director of sales in the St. Louis area. U.S. Cellular is a national wireless carrier with 34 retail locations in the St. Louis Region. U.S. Cellular was recently named a J.D. Power Associates 2011 Customer Service Champion and was also recognized as one of Forbes Magazine’s 2010 “Most Trustworthy Companies.” To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. You can also check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

If you would like to have more information on the many services Seniors Home Care provides to the elderly, click here or call 314-962-2666.

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