Cell Phones Safe Around Pacemakers
March 12, 2007 by Lei
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Back when beepers were more common than cell phones, I remember they were banned from hospital grounds for fear they’d interfere with equipment. Logically, cell phones should be an even bigger problem and in Japan, people are encouraged to refrain from using them on the subway. But perhaps we’re working off assumptions.
Recent tests at the Mayo Clinic have shown that normal use of cell (mobile) phones does not cause any discernable disruptions to medical equipment although some other portable electronic devices might cause problems:
- A portable CD player has been observed to cause an abnormal ECG reading when the player was close to one of the leads on the ECG.
- Anti-theft devices, called electronic article surveillance or EAS, at shop doors may interfere with implanted pacemakers and defibrillators if patients stand too close to them for too long.
There’s a solution to technological dangers. Simply shut off the device as soon as you’re aware of a problem. If you can’t find the off switch soon enough, yank the power cord or find some way of disrupting the power supply regardless of the damage it may cause. Acting quickly could save a life!
CNN.com, March 9, 2007
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Tags: cell phones, mobiles, mobile phones, beepers, pacemakers, defibrillators, heart, heart disease, diseases, illness, health, medicine
