- Male.
- 2 or 3 years old.
- Injured at home.
- Inserted a hairpin into a receptacle.
- Suffered a 1st- or 2nd-degree electric burn to a finger.
- Emotional trauma to child and parents.
- Required emergency room treatment.
Objects inserted are everyday, easily accessible household items:
Hairpin – 32%
Keys – 17%
Finger – 12%
Pin, wire, screw or nail – 11%
Plug – 11%
Unidentified – 8%
Paper clip or staple – 5%
Tool (i.e., tweezer, file or knife) – 3%
Jewelry or belt buckle – 1%
An analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
data over a 10 year period (1991-2001) found:
- 24,000+ children under 10 years old were treated in Emergency Rooms for incidents related to electrical
receptacles—about 7 children per day.
- 89% are under 6 years old.
- 50% are 2 to 3 years old—the highest-risk group.
- Boys are the highest risk, regardless of age.
Typical Location of Incidents
A Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) 8-year study (1996–2003) of 14 hospitals found:
- 465 children under 9 years old were treated in emergency rooms for incidents related to electrical
receptacles.
- Close to 85% were under 4 years old.
- Most cases required advice and follow-up.
- 3% were admitted or transferred.
- 40% were between 3-6 years old.
- 79% were injured at home.
- 69% were injured when an object was placed in an outlet.
NEMA is the leading trade association in the U.S. representing the interests of electroindustry manufacturers of products used in the generation , transmission and distribution , control, and end-use of electricity.
