Here’s why you shouldn’t sleep with your phone charging in your bed

Many of us refuse to let our cell phones leave our sides, even when we’re sleeping. But as Bustle reports, a new PSA reveals the very real dangers that come with charging your phone in bed. Giving us yet another convincing reason to revisit our phone charging habits, a cautionary Facebook post shared by Newton, New Hampshire Fire Department explains how charging your phone on your bed — specifically beneath your pillow — is a serious fire hazard.

Accompanied by several photos of a scorched phone charger lying on a bed, the post details how heat from the phone can become trapped beneath the pillow, causing the bed to catch fire.

"Research has revealed that 53% of children/teens charge their phone or tablet either on their bed or under their pillow," the post reads. "This is can be extremely dangerous. The heat generated cannot dissipate and the charger will become hotter and hotter. The likely result is that the pillow/bed will catch fire."

While the post largely focuses on the heat generated from the phone, there are also other dangers posed by sleeping next to your cell, from skin damage to possible exposure to radiation. A few months ago, a man was electrocuted by charging his phone in bed when metal from his necklace made contact with the prongs on the charger, leading to second- and third-degree burns.

Whether you doze off while scrolling through Instagram or intentionally plug in and leave your cell next to you all night to use it as an alarm in the morning, it may be best to place some much-needed distance between your phone and your bed well before you fall asleep.