Community Corner

Summer Safety Tips for Your Mobile Devices

Cell phones and high temperatures are not a good mix, so don't leave your phone in your car during hot days.

  • Keep your phone in a cool place - don't leave your phone in a hot car or trunk. Mobile phones can retain heat very quickly.
  • Never handle a phone when it's too hot to touch. Bring it to a cool place and leave it alone until it's safe to touch. Certain mobile devices may actually warn you from using the device until it cools down.
  • Water can be a major foe for mobile phones. Keep your phone protected when you go to the beach or pool – an Otterbox cover is a good option, but plastic baggies can work just as well. Try to keep your phone in a shady, or covered, spot while you're taking a dip. And check your pockets – it's very common to jump into a pool without realizing your phone's in your swim trunks.
  • There are lots of apps that are perfect to track heat waves, such as Weatherbug and AccuWeather. Plus: 
    • Beat The Heat allows you to calculate your maximum sun exposure, based on your skin type, local weather conditions and sunscreen protection. 
    • Drinking Water reminds you to stay hydrated.
    • A new iPhone app, Cloth, helps you pick your outfit based on the weather conditions.
  • AT&T reminds you never to text and drive on your way to the beach, pool or other summer hotspots. Memorial Day to Labor Day are the "100 deadliest days" on the road for teen drivers. A recent survey by AT&T highlighted the problem: Drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be in an accident or near-accident. While 97 percent of teens know that texting while driving is dangerous, 43 percent of them admit to sending a text while driving – and 75 percent say the practice is common among their friends.  The survey found that teenagers feel pressure to quickly respond to text messages (teens text 5 times as much as adults) – but adults are also setting a poor example by texting while driving themselves.
  • Want help curbing the urge to text while driving? AT&T's DriveMode app is a free app that sends a customizable auto-reply message to incoming texts, letting friends and family know you're behind the wheel and that you will reply when it's safe.

Tips courtesy Marissa Dursin.


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