Heat wave hack that could be DEATH: TikTokers urged not to attach ice bags to their fans to stay cool as they risk severe electric shocks.
- Security experts warn of a dangerous new trend that is spreading to TikTok
- Users tie bags to fans to create a “homemade air conditioner”.
- But users attempting to pull off the alleged “hack” risk getting electrocuted.
With temperatures reaching record highs of 40.3°C in parts of the UK yesterday, many desperate Britons are going to great lengths to keep cool.
But experts warn against a dangerous trend circulating on the tik tak attaching ice to the back of the fans to combat the heat wave.
A TikTok video shows users tying ice bags to their electric fans to create a “homemade air conditioner” in hopes of blowing colder air around their homes.
But users attempting to pull off the alleged “hack” risk getting electrocuted, according to the consumer advocacy charity Electrical Safety First (ESF).
The presence of ice near any electrical device can cause water to enter the motor, increasing the risk of electric shock.
Moreover, excessive weight of the bag attached to the top of the fan can cause it to fall and damage or block the rotation of the blades.
The ESF warning came after the British had to endure the hottest day on record on Tuesday, with temperatures exceeding 104°F (40°C).
The Met Office recorded preliminary readings of 40.3°C (104.5°F) at Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Tuesday at 3pm – a record high.
“A video on TikTok encourages exhausted Britons to practice unsafe ways to hack into their electric fans,” said Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First.
“Tethering an ice bag to a fan is very risky, as it can destabilize the fan, which can cause it to fall, causing the blades to hit the guard and put extra stress on the motor, and could also break your fan completely.
“Most importantly, however, the water that melts from the bag can come into contact with the motor and cause an electrical shock risk to anyone who touches the fan.”
Putting an ice bucket in front of an electric fan is a tried and tested way to cool down.
But it is important to keep it as far away from the fan as possible and not let them touch.
ESF also listed the do’s and don’ts when it comes to safe fan use, one of which is not leaving it on overnight.
Unfortunately, hundreds, if not thousands, of Britons have turned on the fan overnight to endure the sticky and uncomfortable heat.
Trying to keep cool: Water from melted ice can potentially conduct electricity from a fan and can result in a fatal electric shock.
This video shows a bucket of ice a few feet from a fan. As a general rule, the farther the ice is from the fan, the better, but any contact between the two poses a huge safety risk.
Running the fan at night puts people at risk if the device fails while the owner is asleep, ESF said.
So the charity is advising owners to always turn off the fan before bed and make sure their home has a working smoke alarm in case of a malfunction.
ESF also highlights the importance of buying a fan from a trusted retailer, especially when buying online.
Purchasing fans from third party sellers online can leave us vulnerable to “poor quality and potentially dangerous” counterfeits, which can lead to electric shock and fire.
In the absence of a fan, etc. methods of keeping cool include wearing socks that have been in the fridge, avoiding alcohol, and, more bizarrely, rolling your tongue.
Turning off electronic devices can also reduce the amount of heat generated in a home, keeping the curtains closed throughout the day to keep rooms in the shade.
One Australian shared the “trick” of sticking foil to windows, which acts as a super-efficient sunlight reflector.
