IPHONE 12 Precautions

I have a pacemaker and ICD and was planning on upgrading my IPHONE 6s to the new IPHONE 12 Mini. However, after much research into the makeup of the IPhone 12 I want to share a warning to all my fellow club members. 

The I Phone 12 series have the Magsafe Charger that charges your phone by attaching to the back using 18-yes- 18 Magnets. A huge increase over the older IPhones. These magnets put out a  much stronger magnetic field than older models and have an increase chance of interfering with your device. A cell phone is harder to keep 6" or more from your chest especially if you let your guard down, which can happen quite easily with long conversations.

Here is how Apple responds to this------Apple's safety warning is applicable to all ‌iPhone 12‌ models, and suggests that the new iPhones are safe for those who have medical implants as long as the proper safety protocols for those devices are followed, with no specific considerations that need to be made for the greater number of magnets in the ‌iPhone 12‌.Oct 29, 2020.

Their example of proper safety protocols are to keep the phone a few inches from your implant. Really, is this possible a 100% of the time? Are you always aware of your ability to do this, or if you are a normal user of a cell phone there's a good chance this phone will eventually lay on your implant(bed use).

My soluution is that Apple offer IPhone12 models without the Magsafe Charger and the increased magnets, in this phone and future models of IPhones. 

8 Comments

Magnetic fields

by AgentX86 - 2020-11-12 17:32:52

These magnets aren't going to do anything to your PM, no matter how many there are unless, perhaps, you stick it to your chest right over your PM.  DC magnetic fields are rarely a problem.  AC feilds (welders, large motors, and perhaps induction cook tops) may be but don't sweat permanent magnets.  If it makes you feel better, keep them a foot away.

 

Iphone magnets & pacemakers,ICD.

by braver - 2020-11-12 21:44:31

My point is you aren't always able to keep your phone away from your implant.

Phone

by AgentX86 - 2020-11-12 22:04:06

Why not?  Don't put it in your left shirt pocket or sleep on it and you'll be fine.  If you're that paranoid, just a few simple practices can eliminate any possible problems.

Iphone

by Annie 1 - 2020-11-12 22:51:37

I agree it can be a concern braver.  I was told Someone had placed a magnet over my pacemaker when integration was done. I thought I was being careful not to place it close to my PM but obviously not careful enough. 

The important question

by Gotrhythm - 2020-11-13 13:36:35

The world is full of hazards. Take knives. You could die of a knife wound. We teach children at an early age to be careful of knives. But do we walk around afraid of knives? Do we refuse to buy one or have it in the house? 

No. Because we know that even though we might cut ourselves with the knife--probably will sooner or later--the cut will be minor. It is unlikely to be life-threatening. 

Instead of going through life, fearful that some ordinarily safe electronic device or household appliance could be dangerous to you because you have a pacemaker, and trying to make a list of everything that must be avoided, it might be more efficient to get the facts about how much danger close proximity to a magnet puts you in. 

What do you believe would happen to you if you did put the phone too close to your device?

What would getting too close to a magnet actually do?

On a scale of 1 to 100, where 1 is no danger, and 100 is lethal, exactly how dangerous do you think a Smart phone is?

If you're afraid of the Iphone, the waffle maker, the induction oven, the answer is probably "I don't know."  Not knowing is the scariest thing in the world.

The cure for "not knowing" is getting the facts.

I wish this forum had a "like" button

by LondonAndy - 2020-11-13 18:22:59

I agree with those who say the risk is very low.

Knives

by AgentX86 - 2020-11-13 23:48:54

Good analogy (though I'd have used scissors).

The thing to be concerned about (if anything) isn't forcing the PM into its default mode temporarily, rather oversensing caused by high AC magnetic fields, like welders or industrial power installations.  Those of us who are dependent have to be a little more paranoid but not because of a little magnet.

Ironic...

by CyborgMike - 2020-11-14 03:26:58

As I am reading this post, I am lying in bed with a new iPhone 12 pro max (the big one) resting on my chest immediately above my PM. I'm am 98% paced so I'd know if it dropped into default mode. Like all the other scary warnings, this isn't cause for any concern. 
As a test, I just put my HR monitor going on my watch and then put the back (MagSafe sensor) of the phone directly against my PM and couldn't get it to drop into programming mode. The world is still a safe place. 
 

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Member Quotes

I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.