[ 141 ]16PACEMAKERSPacemaker manufacturers recommend that a minimum separation of atleast 6 inches (approximately 20 cm) be maintained between a handheldwireless phone and a pacemaker to avoid potential interference with thepacemaker. These recommendations are consistent with the independentresearch by and recommendations of Wireless Technology Research.Persons with pacemakers:• Should always keep the phone more than 6 inches (20 cm) from theirpacemaker when the phone is switched on• Should not carry the phone in a breast pocket• Should use the ear opposite the pacemaker to minimize the potentialfor interference.• Switch off the phone immediately if you have any reason to suspectthat interference is taking place.HEARING AIDSSome digital wireless phones may interfere with some hearing aids. In theevent of such interference, you may want to consult your service provider.Other medical devicesOperation of any radio transmitting equipment, including cellular phones,may interfere with the functionality of inadequately protected medicaldevices. Consult a physician or the manufacturer of the medical device todetermine if they are adequately shielded from external RF energy or ifyou have any questions. Switch off your phone in health care facilitieswhen any regulations posted in these areas instruct you to do so.Hospitals or health care facilities may be using equipment that could besensitive to external RF energy.VehiclesRF signals may affect improperly installed or inadequately shieldedelectronic systems in motor vehicles (for example, electronic fuelinjection systems, electronic antiskid/antilock braking systems, electronic
