Each day, approximately 140,000 calls are placed to emergency services from cell phones.1 In many of these instances, people credit their phones with helping to save their lives. At the same time, the New England Journal of Medicine has concluded that using a cell phone while driving can increase the risk of having a collision by as much as fourfold.2
Cell phones, in other words, are a mixed blessing. By taking safety precautions, however, the benefits of owning and using one can far outweigh the potential risks.
Safety tips for the car
Talking on a cell phone while driving is a potentially dangerous combination. Follow these guidelines to enhance your safety:
- Make driving safely a higher priority than using your cell phone; in other words, it's best to pull over to place a call. If you receive an incoming call, let it go into your voicemail and return the call later.
- If you're determined to make and receive phone calls while driving, then:
- Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.
- To help you keep your hands on the wheel, purchase hands–free equipment, such as a headset.
- Become well acquainted with your cell phone's features — so you'll know how to use it without looking away from the road. Know how to use the speed–dial function, and pre–program all frequently dialed numbers.
- Don't take notes while driving.
- Refrain from having conversations that require intense concentration. If a conversation goes from light to in–depth, pull over at a rest stop or tell the person you'll call them back later.
Safe to use in the hospital?
Before using a cell phone in a hospital, ask for permission. Since they fear cellular transmissions may interfere with the operation of such sensitive devices as heart monitors, infusion pumps, and drug delivery systems, many hospitals forbid the use of cell phones anywhere inside the hospital.
