Special Report: Dialing Danger

Todd Delpo, Cell phone exploded
"You could see the fire literally spread, even something flew across the room - but I had no clue as to what it was."

To hear Todd Delpo tell it- it was like a bomb went off in his room.

Todd Delpo, Cell phone exploded
"It landed all the way over there by the doorway - that 's how much protrusion this explosion had. It literally flew across the room."

The explosion was caused by Todd's cell phone battery -

Todd Delpo, Cell phone exploded
"Who would have thought that my cell phone would blow up?"

The explosion caused a small fire, but luckily, no one was hurt. Federal safety officials now say they've received more than 80 complaints of exploding cell phone batteries, over the last two years.

Scott Wolfson, CPSC
"People have been hurt, there have been fires, it has happened in a wide variety of cases."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is now recalling three types of cell phone batteries that can be used in these phones. The latest recall involves the Kyocera Slider, K400 and 3200 series phone. Officials say eight different batteries with these serial numbers could be dangerous.

The next recalled battery comes from this Kyocera 7135 Smart Phone. The recalled serial number ends in "05"

The last recalled battery fits in this "LG -Brand TM 510" phone. The recall includes these four different serial numbers

John Walls, Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association
"If one battery has a problem with it, it explodes or it detonates in some way, or there's a spark or something, then that's one too many.

Right now, the wireless industry is revising its standards for all cell phone batteries.

Even if your cell phone battery has not been recalled, here's some safety tips to keep in mind.

• Only use the battery charger that came with your cell phone.
• Incompatibility between chargers and phones could lead to overheating.
• Never touch the battery contacts with metal, such as keys or coins.

Scott Wolfson, CPSC
"There is a hazard to consumers who take the battery out of the cell phone and simply have it in their pocket. Don't crush or put the cell phone under pressure and try to avoid dropping the phone."

Be sure to buy replacement batteries from a name-brand dealer.

If you notice your phone is smoking, or too hot to handle, stop using it and report it to the CPSC

For more information:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05505.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml04/04068.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml04/04559.html