Recently pagers are on the headlines as nine people, including a child, have been killed after handheld pagers used to communicate exploded across Lebanon. About 2800 people got injured in pager explosion.
This article dives deep into what a pager device is, how it works, its types, and even tackles a surprising question: Can a pager explode?
In the age of smartphones and instant messaging, it’s easy to forget that not too long ago, pagers were the go-to tool for staying connected. While most people today might only recognize them from old TV shows or movies, pagers once played a critical role in how people communicated, especially in professional settings.
What is a Pager?
A pager is a small, wireless communication device used to receive short messages. Pagers first gained widespread popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, long before cell phones became common. They were mainly used in professional fields like healthcare, emergency services, and business, allowing people to stay reachable even when they were away from a landline.
While their primary function was simple—delivering a beep, buzz, or text to notify the user—they served a vital role in communication. The device is incredibly durable, long-lasting, and often more reliable in remote areas compared to early cell phones.
Types of Pagers
Over time, pagers evolved, and different types were developed to meet various needs. Let’s break down the two main categories of pagers:
1. Numeric Pagers
The earliest and most basic form of pagers, numeric pagers, could only display numbers on a small screen. A typical message would show a phone number for the recipient to call back. These were perfect for quick communication without requiring detailed responses.
2. Alphanumeric Pagers
A more advanced version, alphanumeric pagers, allowed users to receive text messages, not just numbers. This was a big leap forward, enabling brief messages, phone numbers, or even short sentences to be transmitted. These pagers were popular among professionals who needed more detailed alerts or instructions.
3. Two-Way Pagers
Eventually, pagers evolved to allow two-way communication, meaning users could send and receive messages. These pagers were more interactive, functioning like a precursor to modern texting. Users could reply to the message they received, adding a new layer of convenience.
Uses of Pagers
Even though smartphones dominate today, pagers still have specific uses where reliability and simplicity are key.
1. Healthcare
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals still use pagers due to their dependable reception, especially in hospitals, where cellular signals may be unreliable. Pagers work even in remote or rural areas, which is why they remain popular in emergency settings.
2. Emergency Services
Police, fire departments, and paramedics often rely on pagers because they are fast and reliable. When lives are on the line, having a communication device that works in extreme conditions is crucial.
3. Business
Some industries, such as hospitality, still utilize pagers to communicate internally. Restaurants might use pagers to notify customers when their table is ready, or office environments might employ them to avoid the distractions of cell phones.
Can Pagers Explode?
Recently, on 17th Sept, 2024, Nine people, including a child, have been killed after handheld pagers used to communicate exploded across Lebanon. About 2800 people got injured in pager explosion. According to reports, these pagers are used by members of the armed group Hezbollah.
Hezbollah said an unspecified number of pagers – which the group relies on heavily for communications due to the risk of mobile phones being hacked or tracked – exploded at around 15:30 local time (12:30 GMT) in the capital Beirut and many other areas.
According to a source, the affected devices were from a new shipment that Hezbollah had received in recent days. A Hezbollah official also told some people had felt the pagers heat up before the blasts.
Overheated lithium-ion batteries can catch fire, but experts said hacking into the pagers and making them overheat would not usually cause such explosions.
Several experts were suspecting that pagers would have likely been packed with between 10g and 20g of military-grade high explosive, hidden inside a fake electronic component.
Now, Given today’s concerns with devices overheating or catching fire, especially smartphones and other gadgets with lithium-ion batteries, some may wonder: Can a pager explode?
The short answer is: it’s extremely unlikely.
Most pagers are powered by standard batteries, such as AA or AAA alkaline batteries, which are generally very stable. While any electronic device has a theoretical risk of malfunction, there’s no widespread history of pager explosions or fires. Unlike modern smartphones, which pack significant processing power and more sensitive, compact batteries, pagers are relatively simple devices.
Even with the introduction of rechargeable pagers, there’s no significant history or evidence suggesting they pose a higher risk. Explosions in electronics are typically related to lithium-ion batteries overheating or being damaged—technology that wasn’t part of most pagers’ designs.
So, while an explosion is theoretically possible in the rarest of circumstances, pagers are considered extremely safe.
Why Pagers Aren’t Totally Obsolete
Though the idea of carrying a pager may seem outdated in the age of smartphones, there are several reasons they’re still used:
- Reliability: Pagers work in places where cell phones may not, such as in underground hospital basements or remote locations.
- Battery Life: Pagers have much longer battery life compared to smartphones.
- Simplicity: In certain high-stress environments, such as hospitals, the straightforward nature of a pager (just buzz and go) is more efficient than a multi-function smartphone.
The Future of Pagers
As technology continues to evolve, the use of pagers has steadily declined, but they’re not completely extinct. Certain niche industries still value their reliability, durability, and simplicity. Whether in emergency situations, remote locations, or settings where distractions are unwelcome, pagers still serve a vital role.
Conclusion
Pagers may seem like relics from a bygone era, but they’ve carved out an enduring place in communication history. From their widespread use in the 1980s and 1990s to their ongoing roles in hospitals and emergency services, pagers have proven to be reliable and effective communication tools. And while smartphones have overtaken most aspects of everyday communication, pagers remain an important device in specific professional environments.
And no, you don’t have to worry about them exploding anytime soon!