# From 2017: Teenager dies after charging cell phone falls into tub? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 4, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-2017-teenager-dies-after-charging-cell-phone-falls-into-tub/1015118 "2025-03-04T17:51:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-2017-teenager-dies-after-charging-cell-phone-falls-into-tub/1015118/21 "2025-03-04T22:14:00Z")
Granted. My gripe is entirely about the hackneyed and specifically incorrect use of the word “frayed” in the context of electrical cords of whatever nature. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-2017-teenager-dies-after-charging-cell-phone-falls-into-tub/1015118/22 "2025-03-04T22:48:01Z")
Given that the conductors in an extension cord are stranded, them poking out of the sheath could be described as “frayed”. ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2025, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-2017-teenager-dies-after-charging-cell-phone-falls-into-tub/1015118/23 "2025-03-04T22:58:23Z")
It’s definitely something to be frayed of. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-2017-teenager-dies-after-charging-cell-phone-falls-into-tub/1015118/24 "2025-03-06T13:25:03Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Also, I’ve seen enough electro-boom and BigClive videos to know there’s a non-zero chance that, under the right circumstances, it could deliver the full mains voltage to the user. That’s where my mind first went. Clive has certainly gotten a lot of mileage out of “look at these dodgy and dangerous consumer electronics.” Including full mains delivery right out of the box. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-2017-teenager-dies-after-charging-cell-phone-falls-into-tub/1015118/25 "2025-03-06T15:33:42Z")
A lot of accidents are chain of events things. In this case- 1. The kid decides to have the phone charging while in the bath. 2. They use an extension cord. 3. The extension cord is in far from perfect shape. 4. Some water gets on the cord or it gets touch while wet. Note that some of these could be replaced if enough water gets splashed around or if the charger is faulty. Humans tend be blind to such chains. E.g., “Using an extension cord isn’t that dangerous.” Ignoring the other factors in the chain. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-2017-teenager-dies-after-charging-cell-phone-falls-into-tub/1015118/26 "2025-03-06T22:49:15Z")
I thought everyone knew you need to use flip flops to properly insulate your extension cords around water: [![](https://i.imgur.com/BedHH46.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/BedHH46.png) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-2017-teenager-dies-after-charging-cell-phone-falls-into-tub/1015118.md?page=1)