Pantech Jest 2 Manual - English - Page 83

10. What about children using wireless phones? The scientific evidence does not show a danger to users of wireless phones, including children and teenagers. If you want to take steps to lower exposure to radiofrequency energy (RF), the measures described above would apply to children and teenagers using wireless phones. Reducing the time of wireless phone use and increasing the distance between the user and the RF source will reduce RF exposure. Some groups sponsored by other national governments have advised that children be discouraged from using wireless phones at all. For example, the government in the United Kingdom distributed leaflets containing such a recommendation in December 2000. They noted that no evidence exists that using a wireless phone causes brain tumors or other ill effects. Their recommendation to limit wireless phone use by children was strictly precautionary; it was not based on scientific evidence that any health hazard exists. 11. What about wireless phone interference with medical equipment? Radiofrequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can interact with some electronic devices. For this reason, FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure electromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless telephones. This test method is now part of a standard sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Medical instrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a joint effort by FDA, medical device manufacturers, and many other groups, was completed in late 2000. This standard will allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI. FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from handheld wireless phones and helped develop a voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This standard specifies test methods and performance requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones so that that no interference occurs when a person 162 uses a "compatible" phone and a "compatible" hearing aid at the same time. This standard was approved by the IEEE in 2000. FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for possible interactions with other medical devices. Should harmful interference be found to occur, FDA will conduct testing to assess the 01 interference and work to resolve the problem. 02 12. Where can I find additional information? 03 For additional information, please refer to the following resources: • FDA web page on wireless phones 04 (http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/ 05 RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/ HomeBusinessandEntertainment/CellPhones/default.htm) 06 • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) RF Safety Program 07 (http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety) • International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (http://www.icnirp.de) • World Health Organization (WHO) International EMF Project (http://www.who.int/emf) • National Radiological Protection Board (UK) (http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/) AVOID POTENTIAL HEARING LOSS Prolonged exposure to loud sounds (including music) is the most common cause of preventable hearing loss. Some scientific research suggests that using portable audio devices, such as portable music players and cellular telephones, at high volume settings for long durations may lead to permanent noise-induced hearing loss. This includes the use of headphones (including headsets, earbuds and Bluetooth® or other wireless devices). Exposure to very loud sound has also been 1623