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Cell phone imprisoned…for arson!
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A cell phone caused this?
I bet that got your attention.
Did you know that cell phones can turn on certain type of ovens? That’s “turn on” as in activate the oven, not arouse them with romantic music and dinner. While this phone-a-friend destruction isn’t as cool as an attack of a robot army, it can still torch your home!
TRUE story: recently, a mild-mannered Marine from Brooklyn made a discovery about cell phones, girlfriends and Tupperware.
Our Brooklyn Marine put his cell phone next to his new Maytag Magic Chef Oven. The oven was OFF at the time.
After returning from his morning jog, our hero found his apartment was on FIRE.
While he was away, his girlfriend had called him. The ringing of the phone activated his oven and turned it to broil. Apparently, the cell phone had just seen the movie “Julie and Julia” and was trying a chicken, mushroom and wine dish from Julia Child’s cookbook.
For the non-Julia Child types, “broil” means that the oven warmed up to over 500 degree really quickly.
Mr. Mild Manner Marine had his oven jammed full of Tupperware recently purchased from his girlfriend’s Tupperware party (wow, Marines will do just about anything to get the girl, but a “Tupperware party”??).
As soon as he was able to open what was left of his oven the remaining Tupperware burst into flames, finishing off the rest of the kitchen and the apartment.
Tips from our Marine friend to you:
1. Call your friendly Maytag repair man. Order a “suppressor” for your rouge Maytag Magic Chef Oven.
2. Your cell phone can turn on other electrical things in your house, like an automatic fire place. Check online to see if your cell phone has problems or recalls.
3. And, if your fellow Marines call you and ask you how your apartment caught fire, LIE to them. The truth is sometimes way too memorable and will be used against you.
Lessons learned: don’t store your Tupperware or any flammable material in your oven. Never leave your cell phone next to your Magic Chef Oven, your automatic fire place or your electric blanket.
Our mild-mannered Marine now has a reason to go to his girlfriend’s next Tupperware party. To make sure she doesn’t tell the story to anyone. He’d hate for people to find out!
Oops.
Chris has more than 20 years of professional-safety experience. As the marketing manager for DuPont’s environmental and safety services, he has seen firsthand the safety challenges faced by plant personnel while working with more than 600 chemical, petrochemical and manufacturing facilities. Chris is an award-winning international safety speaker and author. Contact Chris here if you have any questions or suggestions.
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