Teen Electrocuted By Cell Phone in Bathtub?

[Benny B]

http://www.wthr.com/article/texas-teen-electrocuted-after-cell-phone-accidentally-falls-in-bathtub

My BS meter is going off like crazy.  Most phones are charged on under 3 amps of 5VDC power... there's no way she could have been electrocuted to death by that small amount of electricity.

Now, had her phone charger been plugged into an extension cord and the extension cord had fallen into the bathtub, possibly... but does this bathroom not have GFCI?  Even so, that has nothing to do with the cell phone.

Can any EE's explain how the heck this could happen?

[StillAWarrior]

http://www.wthr.com/article/texas-teen-electrocuted-after-cell-phone-accidentally-falls-in-bathtub

My BS meter is going off like crazy.  Most phones are charged on under 3 amps of 5VDC power... there's no way she could have been electrocuted to death by that small amount of electricity.

Now, had her phone charger been plugged into an extension cord and the extension cord had fallen into the bathtub, possibly... but does this bathroom not have GFCI?  Even so, that has nothing to do with the cell phone.

Can any EE's explain how the heck this could happen?

From the article:

“This is such a tragedy that doesn’t need to happen to anyone else. And we want something good to come out of this as awareness of not using your cell phone in the bathroom as it is plugged in and charging," O'Guinn said.

The post about Coe on Facebook continues to be shared, opening up many eyes to the power of electricity, and the danger of plugging in any electrical appliance that isn’t water-proof, near water."




Two things:  First, it seems clear that they're saying it was plugged in, so I'm guessing that was the issue (not sure why no GFCI).  Second, while their heart is undoubtedly in the right place, I'm a little leery of the advice they're giving.  I think I'd recommend not plugging in any electrical appliance near water.  I'm somewhat skeptical that the water-proofing of the appliance will prevent electrocution if it goes into the water while plugged in (again, not considering GFCI).

Any engineers or electricians care to clear that up?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The machines are revolting. Clearly this belongs in the doom thread

[4everwarriors]

Cleerly dis wuz a case of sextin' pornographic selfies, ai na?

[rocket surgeon]

here's the elephant in the (bath)room-is there any place or time one can do WITHOUT their damn cell phone?  i mean cheezus chrimineee-everywhere ya go, people's eyes are glued to their damn cell phones.
        i was out to dinner one night and there were 2 woman-girls-broads-ladies sitting across from each other.  they hardly, if at all, acknowledged each other as they were busy texting others the whole time.
       driving down the freeway, count how many people you notice NOT on their cell phones.  what the heck did we do with ourselves 20 years ago??  ok, carry on

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Rocket-

Those ladies may have also been texting each other in addition to others.  It's that invasive.

[Dr. Blackheart]

what the heck did we do with ourselves 20 years ago??  ok, carry on

Bag phones

[GooooMarquette]

what the heck did we do with ourselves 20 years ago??  ok, carry on

OK, is that really a question.   

[rocket surgeon]

Rocket-

Those ladies may have also been texting each other in addition to others.  It's that invasive.

i thought about that, but i don't think so-if you were texting a person facing you on the other side of a table, wouldn't you glace up occasionally to acknowledge the other, maybe a smirk or a giggle or something?  maybe they were playing a video game, watching a movie, reading the news, etc  that i'll give you however

[rocket surgeon]

OK, is that really a question.   

ruh-roh-probably should re-phrase that one

[Jay Bee]

This story is shocking.

[Anti-Dentite]

Rocket-

Those ladies may have also been texting each other in addition to others.  It's that invasive.

They were texting "why does that creepy old man keep looking at us" to each other.

[rocket surgeon]

They were texting "why does that creepy old man keep looking at us" to each other.

  i didn't see any "creepy old men" around, but we can go with that one if it fires up your dendrites

[GGGG]

here's the elephant in the (bath)room-is there any place or time one can do WITHOUT their damn cell phone?  i mean cheezus chrimineee-everywhere ya go, people's eyes are glued to their damn cell phones.
        i was out to dinner one night and there were 2 woman-girls-broads-ladies sitting across from each other.  they hardly, if at all, acknowledged each other as they were busy texting others the whole time.
       driving down the freeway, count how many people you notice NOT on their cell phones.  what the heck did we do with ourselves 20 years ago??  ok, carry on

Outside of the obvious safety issues with the driving, why do you care?  That's what I don't understand about people bitching about those who use cell phones to text at dinner, etc.  Who cares?

[MU82]

Outside of the obvious safety issues with the driving, why do you care?  That's what I don't understand about people bitching about those who use cell phones to text at dinner, etc.  Who cares?

I don't care in the slightest if they are at a different table than I am.

But to avoid conversation with me and other dining companions to send a text is simply rude. I know plenty of people who, unlike me, aren't doddering old fools but nevertheless agree with this.

Unless it is an emergency, a babysitter touching base, an important job-related situation, etc, there is no more reason to text during a meal than there is to stand up and fart during a meal. And even the "acceptable" texts ... excuse yourself, leave the table and text elsewhere.

[rocket surgeon]

Outside of the obvious safety issues with the driving, why do you care?  That's what I don't understand about people bitching about those who use cell phones to text at dinner, etc.  Who cares?

once again sully-context.  you love to cherry pick something and then blast it apart, leaving behind some important info. 

    i have no problems with texting during dinner...BUT, when that's all that is going on and there is absolutely NO interaction between the 2 who obviously made the date and time to meet FOR DINNER literally sat there the whole time texting.  there no discussion, conversation between themselves.  it's just another example of how we are raising a generation of kids whose face - face, onon on one communication skills have diminished...gee, i wonder why?

 

[GGGG]

I don't care in the slightest if they are at a different table than I am.

But to avoid conversation with me and other dining companions to send a text is simply rude. I know plenty of people who, unlike me, aren't doddering old fools but nevertheless agree with this.

Unless it is an emergency, a babysitter touching base, an important job-related situation, etc, there is no more reason to text during a meal than there is to stand up and fart during a meal. And even the "acceptable" texts ... excuse yourself, leave the table and text elsewhere.

Yes it is rude if the texting is one sided and the other party is talking.

However people should stop trying to make larger cultural references than that.

[GGGG]

once again sully-context.  you love to cherry pick something and then blast it apart, leaving behind some important info. 

    i have no problems with texting during dinner...BUT, when that's all that is going on and there is absolutely NO interaction between the 2 who obviously made the date and time to meet FOR DINNER literally sat there the whole time texting.  there no discussion, conversation between themselves.  it's just another example of how we are raising a generation of kids whose face - face, onon on one communication skills have diminished...gee, i wonder why?

 

I love the fact that we should take communication advise from the guy whose posts are often incomprehensible.

[4everwarriors]

I don't care in the slightest if they are at a different table than I am.

But to avoid conversation with me and other dining companions to send a text is simply rude. I know plenty of people who, unlike me, aren't doddering old fools but nevertheless agree with this.

Unless it is an emergency, a babysitter touching base, an important job-related situation, etc, there is no more reason to text during a meal than there is to stand up and fart during a meal. And even the "acceptable" texts ... excuse yourself, leave the table and text elsewhere.

Whatda ya 'posed ta do if ya gotta fart durin' said meal, hey?

[Benny B]

I love the fact that we should take communication advise from the guy whose posts are often incomprehensible.

Come on, Sultan.  Your posts aren't that bad.

[mu03eng]

I don't care in the slightest if they are at a different table than I am.

But to avoid conversation with me and other dining companions to send a text is simply rude. I know plenty of people who, unlike me, aren't doddering old fools but nevertheless agree with this.

Unless it is an emergency, a babysitter touching base, an important job-related situation, etc, there is no more reason to text during a meal than there is to stand up and fart during a meal. And even the "acceptable" texts ... excuse yourself, leave the table and text elsewhere.

Eh, context matters. If one can engage in a conversation in real time while occasionally texting someone I don't see why there is an issue. If said person has to ask you to repeat what you said more than once while texting then it's a deal breaker IMO.

Having said that I have zero issue with respecting other peoples real time requirements. I have a friend that insists when a group of us go out to dinner that all cell phone go in the middle of the table and no one can look at them unless it's an emergency until the meal is over(most everybody has some sort of smart watch these days to let them see a message without looking at the phone). That's just fine by me, but I don't think I'm addicted to my phone like some are

[GB Warrior]

Eh, context matters. If one can engage in a conversation in real time while occasionally texting someone I don't see why there is an issue. If said person has to ask you to repeat what you said more than once while texting then it's a deal breaker IMO.

Having said that I have zero issue with respecting other peoples real time requirements. I have a friend that insists when a group of us go out to dinner that all cell phone go in the middle of the table and no one can look at them unless it's an emergency until the meal is over(most everybody has some sort of smart watch these days to let them see a message without looking at the phone). That's just fine by me, but I don't think I'm addicted to my phone like some are

I bought a smartwatch specifically to sever the tie to my phone in case there are urgent messages. Serves as a filter for only messages from my wife that I need to be immediately aware of (and select Twitter feeds  ).

[rocket surgeon]

I love the fact that we should take communication advise from the guy whose posts are often incomprehensible.

atta boy!

[rocket surgeon]

Whatda ya 'posed ta do if ya gotta fart durin' said meal, hey?

i heard that farting during or after a meal in china is considered a compliment to the cook.  don't know what chitting ones self means though   i guess it all depends(pun kinda intended) if it was a one wiper or multiple, eyn'a?

[tower912]

Eh, context matters. If one can engage in a conversation in real time while occasionally texting someone I don't see why there is an issue. If said person has to ask you to repeat what you said more than once while texting then it's a deal breaker IMO.

Having said that I have zero issue with respecting other peoples real time requirements. I have a friend that insists when a group of us go out to dinner that all cell phone go in the middle of the table and no one can look at them unless it's an emergency until the meal is over(most everybody has some sort of smart watch these days to let them see a message without looking at the phone). That's just fine by me, but I don't think I'm addicted to my phone like some are

A game among some young people.  Pho ed in a pile.  First to grab phone and look at it pays for dinner.