First Response & Preservation Operational Explainer
What should I do with a wet mobile device?¶
Do not power it, charge it, heat it, dismantle it or test it.
Preserve the exposure history and condition, manage electrical/battery risk, and get specialist recovery advice promptly.
The practical rule
Do not try to “dry it out” yourself. Record what happened and transfer it through a safety-led recovery process.
Record the exposure¶
Capture:
- device;
- liquid;
- location;
- ports;
- cables;
- visible display or lights;
- liquid type if known;
- exposure time;
- recovery time;
- orientation; and
- actions already taken.
Wet-device exposure note
Liquid: salt waterRecovered: 16:42Device: screen darkCharging attempt before recovery: none
Avoid improvised drying¶
Rice, direct heat and casual dismantling can:
- introduce contamination;
- move residue deeper;
- damage components; or
- obscure the original condition.
If the device is still powered and safe to approach, record visible content without repeated button presses.
Safety still comes first¶
Watch for:
- heat;
- swelling;
- smoke;
- damage; or
- odour.
Different liquids create different recovery problems. Fresh water, salt water and corrosive contamination are not equivalent.
A phone that appears dead may still yield evidence later.
The practical point is: preserve the wet condition and exposure history, avoid adding power or heat, and hand the device into a specialist recovery process.
