It may not happen often, but when it does, it's devastating!
Most people know that charging cables don't belong in water – not in the bathtub or any other damp environment. Modern chargers now detect short circuits and are, at least theoretically, not dangerous – if you disregard minor electric shocks and defects in the cable or device.
"In Germany, quality standards are so high, everything is safe" ... right?
NO, unfortunately, that's not the case . There are repeated reports in Germany of deaths or resuscitations after a mobile phone charging cable in the bathtub caused a life-threatening electric shock. While chargers for smartphones and other devices that meet quality standards should reduce the voltage to a low level, usually 5V, and have short-circuit protection, the theory that these chargers are safe fails far too often. Every single incident in which someone is injured or even dies as a result is one too many.
The media often explains that the exact circumstances are unknown or that "bad" chargers or power supplies were used. But can we even tell when a charger is dangerous? In most cases, no. If there are exposed bare wires on the cable, it's clear it needs to be replaced. But even perfectly intact chargers advertised as genuine can become dangerous. Too often, cheap products with counterfeit seals and certificates arrive – even among German retailers, there are black sheep who sell dangerous electronic waste at inflated prices. And even original manufacturers explicitly warn against using chargers in damp environments, as the risk can never be completely ruled out.
If even adults can die from charging cables that come into contact with moisture, how dangerous is a charging cable in the worst-case scenario for a baby or toddler who puts it in their mouth and salivates on it? Here, too, it's important to err on the side of caution – because there are enough incidents worldwide to show that the danger posed by mobile phone charging cables and similar products is real. Possible hazards include electric shocks and excessively high voltages that can be transmitted to the body, as well as burns if the charging contact overheats due to a faulty system.
Unfortunately, our charging cable guard cannot prevent electrical accidents in the bathtub if the charging cable is used while bathing. HOWEVER, we can significantly reduce the risk to small children, as the charging cable guard automatically creates a physical barrier between the charging contact and children.
We all need to charge our mobile devices, our smartphones almost daily. Everything we use every day quickly becomes interesting to our little explorers. And if our child discovers a charging smartphone during their explorations around the house, it's unplugged faster than we can blink. During the oral stage, the charging contact is often put in the mouth. And just like that, a potentially dangerous situation arises that should be avoided. Putting it away is the general recommendation, but sometimes that's not so easy to implement. Child safety locks are an ideal preventative measure to ensure that even forgetting the charger near our children doesn't become a hazard.