Why Dr. Kerry Crofton Is Worried About Cell Phones Affecting Kids' Health

For most of us, our cell phones are an extension of our bodies. While we may be aware that there is a potential risk associated with mobile radiation, we may not know what to do about it. At one point, this concern only impacted adults but whether we like it or not, our children use smart phones more and more these days.

Whether it's for educational purposes or using it to play (thanks, Pokemon Go!), my kids use my phone A LOT. Definitely more than I would like to admit. The reality is, they will continue to do so, but it still worries me to think about the impact radiation may have on their developing brains and bodies.

Not long ago, the people at Lif3 Smartchip connected me with Dr. Kerry Crofton to talk about smart phone radiation exposure and our kids. Dr. Crofton is a health educator, concerned parent, and member of the International EMF Alliance. During our conversation, she noted that children absorb 30 to 40 times more radiation than adults! Since they have thinner skulls than we do and their cells are still forming, this means that more radiation is getting to the brain making them more vulnerable to the impact.

While research is not yet conclusive and experts still have a lot more work to do in this field, I'm not ready to wait 100 or even 20 years to find out what the side effects may be for ourselves and our kids. We all know that asbestos in the home is bad for us, even potentially life threatening, right? Did you know that it took regulators over 100 years, from initial harmful signs, to issue a warning about its potential harmful impacts? And remember when pop drinks were popular, second-hand smoking was a non-issue, and car seats were not mandatory? Well, we've learned, researched, and made meaningful, important changes to keep all of us safer. I know Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Radiation (RF EMF) exposure is NOT good, so if I can do something to prevent any harmful effects now, I'm all for it. I'm not going to sit around and wait for regulators to issue a warning about it!

According to Dr. Crofton, there are four main factors concerning cell phone radiation: proximity, intensity, duration, and vulnerability. Once familiar with these factors, parents should implement safer technology solutions to address each of these points.

Here are six tips and key points on how you can make quick and easy changes to help reduce RF EMF exposure for you and your kids:

1. Use the Speaker Phone Function.

When using your phone to speak to someone (remember when that was all it was used for?), put it on speaker mode to keep the phone away from your head. Alternatively, use a hard-wired (not Bluetooth or wireless) headset. When my husband is away for work each week, I frequently use speaker mode so the kids can speak to him and not have to fight over who goes first. Video calls are even better because we can we see him, he can see all of us, and we keep the phone away from our bodies. Another option is using the old-school wired phone at home and in the office.

2. When possible, communicate via text instead of over the phone.

This keeps any potential exposure away from your brain. Personally, this is my main mode of communication these days besides e-mail. I can have clear, concise, and to the point discussions without any background noise (aka, my kids yelling at me!).

3. Apply a Lif3 Smartchip to your cell phone.

This chip is a simple, affordable, and practical solution that reduces your cell phone radiation exposure and has very little (if any) impact on the signal. The Lif3 Smartchip has been tested by three different accredited facilities. I have one and all I had to do was peel and stick it on the back of my phone (the location varies by phone brand). The Lif3 Smartchip retails for $79 and fits all cell phone types. This isn't just another product, it's an investment in your family's health!

4. When not in use, store your cell phone away from your body.

A bag or purse is ideal, versus holding it in your hand or putting in it in your pockets (and please don't store it in your bra). If you must carry your cell phone near your body, put it on airplane mode.

5. At night, charge your phone in a place far from your bed.

This is good for both reducing exposure and to help you stay OFF your phone (don't forget to turn it on silent mode). If you have tweens and teens who have their own cell phone, make it a rule that overnight, the phone is to be charged outside of their room (and preferably in a place they won't go to should they happen to wake up in the middle of the night).

6. Unplug!

What's the best way to reconnect and give someone your full attention? By unplugging! Just turn off your phone! Yes, this tip is mostly directed at me but I'm sure I'm not the only one out there. As a stay-at-home mom to three young, active boys, my smart phone is my outlet. But I often tune my kids out or turn down quality time with them because I am "too busy" doing something on my phone. Not only is this simple and the best way to reduce any risk associated with cell phone radiation, you may find that you enjoy unplugging.

Good or bad, technology, as a means to learn and play, is here to stay. That doesn't mean we need to turn a blind eye to some of the negative impacts, including cell phone radiation. Instead, we need to be proactive, take pre-emptive actions, and get smart about cell phone safety. Knowledge is our first defense to making technology safer — for my family and yours!