36 User Guide for the Platinum Series Sound ProcessorYou should take the following basic precautions in order to reduce the chances of anESD event:• Electrostatic potential can be safely reduced by touching any person or objectwith your fingers prior to contact with a headpiece, cables or sound proces-sor. Hand contact will safely equalize electric charge and prevent sparks fromjumping to the processor system. When approached by someone (for exampleon carpet), touch him or her first with your hand prior to them touching yourexternal components. Parents are advised to touch their child before they toucha headpiece or sound processor that their child is wearing. Also, before placingany part of a processor system on a table or other surface, you should first touchthe surface.• Avoid contact between your processor/cables/headpiece and metal surfaces be-fore you touch the metal surface with your hand. Children should remove theirheadpiece and processor before engaging in activities that commonly createstatic electricity, such as playing on plastic play equipment.• Carefully exit motor vehicles, particularly in dry, cold weather. Try to avoid contactbetween processor system components and any vehicle metal as you exit.• When possible, remove your external equipment prior to removing sweaters.• The screens of televisions and computer monitors are highly charged. Contactis a problem for two reasons: First, the charge on screens can cause sparks.Second, brushing or touching a screen can transfer a charge that will then dis-charge when you come in contact with another object or person. Do not touchTV or computer screens.• Use fabric softener when washing clothes and bedding, this will reduce the likeli-hood of charge generation. If you strip a bed while wearing a processorsystem, please remember to use your hands to safely reduce any charge buil-dup you may have acquired.REMEMBER: “Touch with hands first!”Airport Security Metal DetectorsMetal detectors and security scanners will not damage your implant. However, theimplant system may activate the detector alarm as you pass through a security metaldetector. Remember to carry your Patient Identification Card with you at all times.You might also hear a distorted sound caused by the magnetic field around the se-curity scanner door or hand-held screening wand. Turning down the volume on yourProcessor before passing through security screening will ensure that those sounds, ifthey occur, are not too loud or uncomfortable.X-Ray MachinesX-Ray machines will not damage the implant but may damage the headpiece micro-phone. Avoid placing the headpiece in checked or carry-on baggage that is screenedwith x-rays. During airport security screening, the headpiece should either be wornthrough the metal detector or be hand-examined.