When 16-year-old Emily Carter stretched to grab her phone charger at 2 a.m., she never imagined a routine plug-in could tear through her neck. The Enid, Oklahoma teen suffered third-degree electrical burns that encircled her throat, leaving deep scars and nearly costing her life.
Emily’s mother, Sarah Carter, shared the harrowing details in an exclusive to KFOR News, warning parents across the country: always inspect chargers for frayed wires and never use devices while plugged in.
“My daughter’s charger looked fine—until it wasn’t. Please check your cords tonight.” https://twitter.com/SarahCarterOK/status/1654321001234567890— Sarah Carter (@SarahCarterOK) May 10, 2025
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, over 5,000 Americans are hospitalized annually for charger-related shocks and burns. Dr. Anthony Ruiz, a burn specialist at University Hospital, told Healthline that neck burns are especially dangerous—risking airway damage and infection.
Emily’s ordeal began when a loose prong sparked, arching electricity across her throat. “She froze, then collapsed,” recalls Sarah. Neighbors called 911 after hearing her screams; paramedics rushed Emily to the burn unit, where she underwent emergency skin grafts.
Emergency crews save teen strangled by live charger—“You never think it can happen to you,” mom says. https://twitter.com/News9/status/1654332109876543210— News 9 (@News9) May 11, 2025
The Carter family urges adults to use certified chargers, avoid cheap knock-offs, and never handle cords with wet hands. “You check smoke detectors—do the same for every cord in your home,” Sarah insists.
Product safety advocates say many inexpensive chargers lack proper grounding and insulation. A 2023 report by the Electronic Safety Foundation found that 40% of tested devices failed basic safety standards, exposing users to high-voltage hazards. Read the full ESF study.
After two weeks in hospital and months of rehabilitation, Emily is finally home—her neck bandaged, her spirit unbroken. She’s learned a harsh lesson: “I’ll never charge my phone in bed again.”
From hospital bed to warning others—Emily’s message: inspect every charger, every time. https://twitter.com/OKSafetyNet/status/1654343210987654321— OK Safety Network (@OKSafetyNet) May 12, 2025
As Emily continues her recovery, the Carter family’s warning echoes far beyond Oklahoma: in every household, one loose wire can change a life forever.
