To have not known this about induction hobs and pacemakers

[gingergiraffe]

Just had a new gas hob delivered. Annoyingly could not get it fitted as cooker switch has to be moved out of ‘zone’ for safety reasons so have had to return and get switch moved first.

The fitters suggested an alternative was to have an induction hob instead. Also told me not ok for anyone with a pacemaker as the magnetic fields would interfere with a pacemaker. How did I not know this? Am I alone in not knowing this?

Well surely you only know this if you have a pacemaker and have been warned at the time or at check ups, or if you buy an induction hob and you are told? I wouldn't have thought it's general knowledge unless it applied to you

I also only recently learned of this.

I didn't know this - and I've had an induction hob for years now. Fortunately nobody in the household has a pacemaker, but I agree, it seems like there should be a proper warning pre-purchase.

@edwinbear did you read the hobs instructions? It was a big warning with a red exclamation triangle next to it in my instructions.

I have an induction hob and a pacemaker. It’s fine. Just got to keep 60 cm between the two. Not like I’m going to lie on top of the induction hob when it’s switched on. Also my pacemaker would bleep if it gets too close to a magnet. More dangerous using welding equipment (which I don’t do!!)

Anyone with a pacemaker has to be careful of strong magnetic fields and high levels of emf. BUT its very distance dependent, so standing up straight in front of an induction hob is fine for me, but leaning right over and getting my upper body close to an active ring can be a problem.
I also cant put a phone close to my upper left chest area, so have to be careful about putting it in a chest pocket on a jacket. I have to walk quickly through the tag detectors at the entrance to shops as they can disturb it (I can also set them off randomly) I can never visit a power station, cant get too close to generators and will never do any welding (that one isnt too much of a problem!). I also cant have an MRI without a lot of faffing and most laser treatments are off the cards.

But on the other hand,if I didnt have one, I would be dead, so its all swings and roundabouts 🤣

@gingergiraffe also, people who have raynauds syndrome cannot turn induction hobs on!! when i was nursing, we had to move the cardiac pacemaker patient right away from the bays when the cleaners were in with the floor washers and polishers!!

They are playing it safe. It's not that you can't use one, it's that you are unlikely to want one as standard because of precautions needed to be taken while around them.

Basically if you have a pacemaker you can have and use an induction hob as long as you keep a 2 foot distance. There are all sorts of devices where you need to keep between three foot and six inches away to stop interference with a pacemaker.

Hairdryers, electric toothbrushes, cord shavers, some stereo speakers, all potentially need half a foot distance kept, but it depends which ones, and the age/type of pacemaker.

Other things to totally avoid are some electronic weighing scales, magnetic mattress strips or pillows, my hospital at home bed (!) some welders. (Over 130 amps basically)

I don't have one, but it's under discussion. I work in situations where accepting one would be a problem, because of specialist equipment.

My mum has a pacemaker and cannot use an induction hob, or microwave or walk through an airport scanner. Some types of pacemaker are fine in an MRI machine but she was unable to have an MRI recently as hers was incompatible. So I've known about those things since she had it fitted but probably wouldn't have known before.

That’s interesting. When researching hobs online, I didn’t see any advice about induction hobs and pacemakers. Similarly, a bit late to find warnings in the instruction booklet once you have purchased and installed.

High levels of EMF, you say?

That's Unbelievable.

I have an induction hob and Raynauds, but have no problem using it. I did not realise it might be a problem.

I forgot about the metal detectors in airports, but I can use the back scatter ones. I often get a pat down at concerts and museums where they have metal detectors.
I had a long argument at the Chunnel customs (French side) as they had a metal detector with a scrappy bit of paper beside it saying that it was safe for pacemakers..like I was going to trust that! They just didnt want to bother finding a female agent to give me a pat down. I finally got them to agree when I asked them if they had a medical crash team to help me if my device was impacted..stupid stupid men.

I have an image of someone lying on the floor boiling up a pot of spuds on their chest

Yup. EMF confuses the pacemaker into thinking the heart is actually beating..so then it doesnt bother to send a stimulation itself..which is a problem!!

😄

@FiveShelties my daughter used to have to get her 8 year old to put the hob on with her raynauds!

But presumably if you have a pacemaker you’d have been told?

Oh wow! I must be very lucky to not have a problem with it, I can see that would be really annoying.

Well kind of…I was given a booklet with all the other post operative stuff, but it wasnt top of my list to read post surgery. Mostly there are some great websites (particularly the manufacturers - thank you Medtronic) and some good chat rooms. Pacemakerclub.com which give you the day to day reality

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

I’m getting a pacemaker/ICD implanted soon. Going to have to get all my ARC welding in before the surgery as well as my induction cooking. Also I’m going to have to carry a card to avoid being “wanded” at the airport.

Ive never had to show my card. I use the international signal for pacemaker…put a hand roughly in your pacemaker area and flap it up and down while mouthing pacemaker to the security person. They surprisingly all get it.

Good luck with your surgery, and if you wear a bra, you might want to get something to pad the scar from your bra strap for a bit while it all heals up. Rucksacks, and seatbelts on that side are also a challenge for a while

A lot of pacemakers are MRI compatible these days so you’d think induction hobs wouldn’t be an issue