It’s like a bomb going off in your hand.  One minute you’re talking away, the next you’re ears are ringing and you’re covered in black ash and gushing blood.  Fragments from your cell phone are now lodged in your body.

That story is a common, one of many reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) every year.  What’s the problem?  It’s not that your phone is the victim of a terrorist attack.  It’s usually the victim of a faulty, incompatible or counterfeit battery or battery charger.  There has been one recall from Verizon Wireless and two from Kyocera Wireless Corp, but the problem may be more pronounced than originally thought.  Consumer advocates say the problem goes beyond faulty batteries and chargers and may be stemming from the increasing pressure on manufacturers to make phones smaller and more powerful.

CPSC has determined that overheating may also be a cause.  Temperatures have been found to exceed 600 degrees Fahrenheit in some batteries in which the vent of the phone was simply blocked.

Cell phone manufacturers recently began working on ways to improve the safety and venting of cell phones.  In the meantime, exercise care with your phone by purchasing batteries and equipment from your cell phone manufacturer.