Making a positive difference
At this point you might be feeling overwhelmed. Don’t be! There are positive steps that you can take to minimize the risks to you and your family – and those around you. Although we may not be able to eliminate ALL EMF radiation exposure, we certainly CAN take steps to reduce our and our children's exposure.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
DO NOT LET CHILDREN USE MOBILE OR WIRELESS DEVICES unless absolutely necessary. Limit their use to the minimum possible and turn off your phone or switch to flight/airplane (non-radiating) mode whenever possible around children. The same dangers apply to adults of course, but the risks are multiplied for children.
GET WIRED. Opt for hard-wired (ethernet/cabled options) over wireless ones, wherever and whenever possible. Powerline Ethernet adaptors (aka Home Plugs) that use your electrical wiring as 'cables' are another wired option in places without Ethernet points. If you feel you must use wi-fi at times, minimize use and keep it off (manually or through setting it on timer) as much as possible – always, always keep it off at night when our bodies are recovering!
DISTANCE IS YOUR FRIEND. Maintain as much distance as possible between yourself/your family (especially children) and various sources of radiation (mobile phones/smart devices, wi-fi hotspots and routers and phone masts/towers) to minimize the intensity of the radiation from these sources. Also limit the time you spend in wi-fi ‘hotspots’ and minimize the use of phones in vehicles (which can magnify the radiation).
THINK LONG TERM. Convenience/expediency always comes at a price. Choose wisely or you and your loved ones will end up paying far more than you could ever imagine. Think about this: how ‘convenient’ is ill health and chronic disease?
BE AWARE & EDUCATE OTHERS. Help create a safer environment by learning, teaching and spreading the word. Educate others (teachers, parents, your friends) about the health hazard that EMF radiation poses (for themselves and particularly for young children) AND what they can do to mitigate its effects. Advise your child’s school to opt for wired (not wireless connectivity and ensure there are no phone masts/mobile phone towers on or near children’s schools, play areas and your home - make your voice heard.
PICK SAFER OPTIONS. Turn your phone to airplane/flight mode whenever possible. Use safer methods/technology that do not involve EMF radiation for activities that really do not require it e.g. cameras for photography, portable alarm clocks for wake-up calls. If you must use your mobile phone for such things, then turn the phone setting to safer modes (i.e. ‘flight’ or ‘airplane’ mode) so that it is not radiating! Reduce your exposure by turning OFF the wi-fi function (another source of radiation) on your phone unless you are travelling as the phone (3G/4G) network is already a source of radiation.
FOLLOW WARNINGS. At minimum, read and follow the Fine Print Warnings on your wireless devices. Most of these advocate a minimum distance between devices such as phones/smart devices, Wi-Fi routers, smart devices antennae and your body. For starts, stop carrying your
mobile phone in your pocket.
Click here for a summary pamphlet for your own use and for sharing/distribution:
Here are some specific tips for minimizing the risks to all of us:
Mobile Phones
Use mobile phones infrequently, limiting calls to those that are absolutely necessary. Keep the length of these calls to an absolute minimum. Studies show risk is cumulative with hours of use.
Turn off or disable Wi-Fi on your mobile phone and utilize only the phone network when in your country of residence. All functions will still work fine. ONLY turn on the Wi-Fi enabled when needed (e.g. when travelling to keep phone bills down).
Wherever possible use text messages but also limit your texting as it still requires the phone to be on and some physical contact with (and proximity to) the phone.
As far as possible use a corded (not cordless) phone line to make calls and forward your phone to your landline at home or in the office
Keep cell phones away from direct contact with your head and body when in use (use the speaker or airtube earbuds; not bluetooth)
Cell phones emit radiation even when you are not making a call. Turn them off wherever possible, or switch them to airplane (non-radiating) mode Store/keep your mobile phone in a bag, not in your pocket, bras, or clothing. Maintain a minimum distance between your body and the phone at all times. If you MUST keep the phone on your person, at least keep the phone’s antenna (usually on the back of the phone) facing away from your body
Do NOT sleep with your mobile phone on. Turn it off or, if you must keep it on, then switch it to airplane mode. This keeps the other phone functions on while blocking radiation. Studies show that mobile phone radiation and other EMF exposure at night adversely impacts sleep cycles, immune function and the production of melatonin and other hormones which can have serious health consequences (e.g. cancer)
Children should NOT be near an active cell phone, laptop or tablet device. Cell phones and tablets are NOT toys. If you must use them with children, download the applications or videos needed and switch it to airplane/flight mode to block radiation
When buying a phone, you can check its SAR rating, by buying a phone with a low SAR you can reduce your EMR exposure. www.sardatabase.com. However, a low SAR cell phone is NOT a ‘safe’ mobile phone as there is no such thing
Don’t place the phone on your ear while your call is connecting as that is the time the phone is sending out its strongest signal. Use the speaker function and wait till you are connected. Hold your phone away from your body (or use the speaker function) until you’ve finished dialing. Similarly when receiving an incoming call wait a couple of seconds before moving the phone close to your body or use the speaker function or air-tube headset
Always switch to airplane mode when playing games, watching videos or using other phone functions such as the alarm clock or note-pad. This avoids unnecessary radiation
Minimize the radiation emitted by your mobile phone by ensuring that you have the best signal possible each time that you use it. Use it outside or near a window as much as possible. The better the coverage, the less power your phone will use, and the less radiation it will emit. Even on standby your cell phone communicates at full power with the nearest cell phone tower regularly to get the best signal possible. In a poor signal/reception area, it may transmit more often to get a better signal
NEVER make a call in the car, bus, train or an elevator. Using your cell phone in a car works on the same principle as sticking your body a microwave oven. In both cases they are metallic enclosures where radiation is magnified.
Do NOT allow children to use a cell phone for calling except for dire emergencies. Many studies indicate that children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cell phone radiation
The RF radiation from your cell phone reflected back by the cars metallic structure magnifies the radiation. It’s called the Faraday cage effect. This radiation from your phone bounces round your car and is absorbed by your body at a higher level than would otherwise be.
Groups that are particularly vulnerable to the ill effects of radiation (e.g. those who are sick/unwell, the young and the elderly or pregnant women should be heavily discouraged from using a cell phone.
Cordless phones
STOP using cordless phones. They emit high levels of RF radiation even when idle. Replace them with corded land lines.
Do NOT let a child use a cordless home phone.
If you must use a cordless phone, keep it away from high use areas and bedrooms. The base-station is a heavy source of radiation.
Wi-Fi Internet & USB devices
Ideally, eliminate the Wi-Fi in your home and opt for wired connections. Wherever possible, replace wireless internet routers with hard-wired units. Some wireless router models will also allow the user to shut off the wireless component and convert it to a hard wired unit only so you nee not reinvest in new hardware
All devices that do not move (e.g. computers on your desk) can be connected using network cables. Most WiFi modems have network ports in the back
If you cannot remove the WiFi, at least turn it off when not in use, use a timer and turn it off every night. Make sure it is not where someone is exposed all day, such as a bedroom or study
Use an extension cable for the 3G USB device to keep it as far from your body as possible. Disconnect the 3G USB device as soon as practically possible
Do not sit near the WiFi modem, especially when people are using it to access the internet. Do not have the WiFi modem or access points in areas that are heavily used by you or by children
Research laptops/tablets (as well as games consoles) before buying. Choose ones that can be wired to the internet rather than those that only use wireless
Turn off the wireless on your laptop when you are not using it. Some laptops have a button on the keyboard, for others this can be done be changing the settings
Laptops should be earthed when being used while powered by their mains adapter/charger unit to substantially reduce electric fields at the keyboardTurn off WiFi on your smart phone and tablet when you're not accessing the internet. Switch tablets to airplane mode to play games or watch videos stored on the device. Do NOT place a WiFi-enabled laptop computer or tablet on your lap. Use a desk, table or tablet holder
For WiFi game consoles, keep the console as far away from players as physically possible when in use. Turn off and unplug the games console when not in use as they may transmit EMR even in standby mode
Wireless baby monitors
Limit the use of the baby monitor to when it is essential
Turn off both parts of the baby monitor when you are not using them
Keep the baby monitor as far away as possible from the baby
Never place a wireless baby monitor (video or audio) by your child’s bed. Use a wired monitor if possible and do not carry the monitor near your body
Other EMF sources
Proximity to cell phone antennas and base stations are a particular hazard. As far as possible, opt out of having such antennas on your roof or having nearby antennae directed towards buildings in which you spend a lot of time. A minimum of 400m is recommended in some countries.
Opt out of any smart meter installations for hydro or water consumption. If they have been installed ask for them to be removed. If that is not possible, try to have the meter placed away from bedrooms or other high use area, or consider the use of a protective screen.
If your home or child’s school has high EMF sources that you cannot control within close proximity (such as mobile phone towers or banks of smart meters), consider safer alternatives for your child. Where these have yet to be installed, seek to influence the decision to have them installed away from schools, homes and hospitals.
Reduce EMF by limiting the time that you wear wireless sensors as such devices typically contain wireless chips that transmit to your phone.
Minimizing risks at schools (the same guidelines apply at home)
Avoid using WiFi if it isn't necessary for connectivity. Where classrooms already have wired network access, use these instead
Where classrooms are powered, but without wired access to the school networks, a centralised switch and dLAN units can provide a reliable and secure form of networking for as many laptops as necessary without any EMF exposure
If a new classroom is to be built, or electrical work is to be carried out in an existing classroom, network cables can be added at the same time, providing wired network access with minimal extra cost and time
Turn off wireless access points and wirelessly enabled laptops when not in use – school policy can ensure this is done consistently
Situate access points as far away from child sitting areas as possible
Locate laptops in the classroom in a way that keeps pupil heads at least a metre from the laptop screens (where the antennas are)
When using a notebook/laptop or a computer use a hard wired network connection. Settings to disable the wireless connection can be found in Network Settings on a PC or AirPort on a Mac
For interactive white boards only use wireless ones if absolutely essential - and switch off the systems when not in active use
Opt for landlines and encourage their use wherever possible by staff and children
Limit or restrict the use of mobile phones by children and staff in school buildings during the school day. Wherever possible switch phones and similar wireless devices to airplane mode during school hours and only turn them on to check when needed
Maintain a minimum safe distance between mobile phones and wireless devices and routers and children at all times.