Exploding phones. Sounds like something out of a tabloid magazine, right? Well, it’s happening and they’re not phones made by fly-by-night companies, they’re Samsung and Apple products! Now, this doesn’t mean phones from other companies don’t explode and catch fire, but it pays to stay aware when phones start turning into mini-bombs! We figured you guys would like to know some ways to keep your phones from blowing up and killing you.

1. Don’t Drop Your Phone In A Volcano

Don’t drop your phone in a volcano. We’re messing with you (not that you should drop your phone in a volcano) but you should know better than to expose your phone to temperature extremes. Lithium-ion batteries tend to become unstable with time and you can speed up the battery’s instability by exposing it to temperature extremes. That’s why we don’t recommend putting batteries in the freezer or doing anything that might cause the battery to become more unstable.

Related: 5 Best Tips To Keep Your Battery Healthy

2. Don’t Beat Your Phone Up

So that means you can’t bring your phone to your UFC debut match against Brock Lesnar. I’m sure you’re looking at the screen now and going “duh,” but how many times do you toss your phone on the couch after a hard day at work? Exactly. Sure, if you toss your phone and it lands perfectly you probably haven’t done much to the battery, but if you throw your phone and it bounces off the cushion, does a kart-wheel across the dinner table and then lands on your perfectly smooth hardwood floors then you’re increasing the odds of an explosion down the line. Lithium-ion batteries are usually quality, but that doesn’t mean you should beat them up.

3. Don’t Expose Your Phone To Direct Sunlight

This point is somewhat related to the one about dropping your phone in a volcano, but we think this is more important since it’s so common and easily remedied. Many of us bring our phones with us when we travel, and that’s fine, but it pays to be aware of what happens if your phone is left unattended. Sometimes, it’s simply inevitable that our phone gets left out while we’re playing around on the beach, but it’s a good idea to remember to keep your phone out tucked away while it’s not with you. Many phones have a built-in feature that makes them shut down when they get too hot, but sometimes the best way to prevent something like this from occurring is to simply avoid leaving your phone out in the sun in the first place. All it takes is one error and your phone can melt.

4. Don’t Use Questionable Power Banks

A low-quality power bank might not have surge protection, overheating protection and a host of other important protections that keep your phone from melting down. The last thing someone wants is for their precious $500 phone to turn into a strange puddle of melted plastic and wires. Make sure to thoroughly research the power bank before you let it charge your phone. We’ve got a detailed guide on what to look for to avoid bad power banks here.

Related: How A Simple Power Bank Can Improve Your Lifestyle

5. Don’t Use Your Phone While It Charges

Charging your phone’s battery causes the phone to heat up and using apps causes your phone’s battery to heat up. Charging and talking causes your phone to heat up even more.

While companies swear up and down that phones are now built to withstand extended periods of charging it still pays to be careful. While overcharging isn’t really a thing anymore, charging your phone for too long can stress out your phone’s heat disposal system which could result and flames and explosions.

6. Don’t Use Strange Chargers

Sometimes, you need to check and make sure that you have the right charger. Different chargers provide different levels of power and this can adversely affect your phone if your phone isn’t ready for this. A classic case of this is using a tablet charger for your smartphone. While some iPhones and some iPads can use the same charger. This can be a big problem, especially with novelty chargers like the power pump to the right. I’m sure it has some niche uses for those of us who like to camp, but many people see the convenience factor and don’t do their research and end up with a damaged phone.

7. Don’t Use Your Phone When It’s Hot

This one should be common sense, but if your phone is hot to the touch that isn’t a good thing and you should be careful. Virtually everyone is guilty of ignoring this warning sign, but you should power down the device immediately and let it cool. If you are especially paranoid you should probably call up the company (with another phone, ha) and see if they can troubleshoot the problem for you. Sometimes it’s a fluke, but other timeses a hot phone is a sign of some other underlying problem that could lead to a phone meltdown or explosion.

While you can dispute the order of these tips, there is no disputing that if you follow these tips that your phone will be far less likely to burst into flames at the most inconvenient time. Again, we want to repeat that this problem isn’t super widespread and you shouldn’t live in fear of exploding phones, but it’s never a bad idea to be aware of the factors that can lead to a potentially deadly exploding phone surprise. Do you guys have any other tips you like? Share ’em below!