| Avoidable injuries associated with children | | | | childhood injuries that the 2008 National Electrical |
| tampering with electrical outlets is something | | | | Code now requires tamper resistant outlets to be |
| everyone with kids in the house should be | | | | used for all new home construction. |
| concerned with. The US Consumer Product | | | | TAMPER PROOF OUTLETS WORK SMARTER |
| Safety Commission has reported that 2,400 kids | | | | Tamper proof outlets are the same size standard |
| a year are taken to the emergency room for | | | | as conventional wall outlets with a built-in shutter |
| injuries associated with electrical | | | | system that protects children from electrical |
| receptacles...seven children every day! If you think | | | | current when inserting foreign objects into the |
| you're home is safe, consider the fact that 70% | | | | receptacle. The shutter mechanism is |
| of these injuries happened in a home where their | | | | spring-loaded and only allows the flow of |
| parents said the same thing. | | | | electricity when pressure is applied equally and |
| Readily available household objects toddlers find to | | | | simultaneously to both shutters in the case of an |
| insert: - 32% are hairpins - 17% are keys - 12% | | | | electrical plug When the outlet is not in use, both |
| a finger - About 10% are things like screws, pins, | | | | shutters remain closed, placing a barrier between |
| nails and wire - 11% while playing with plugs - 8% | | | | the electricity and a child's probe. |
| are never identified - 5% are staples or paper | | | | TAMPER PROOF OUTLETS IN OLDER HOMES |
| clips - 3% are simple tools such as tweezers, files | | | | Installation is so easy and affordable that they are |
| or knifes - 1% are belt buckles or jewelry | | | | being used in older homes as well. The tamper |
| INJURIES CAN BE VERY SERIOUS Almost 95% | | | | resistant outlets fit in the standard outlet locations |
| of injuries, according to CPSC, involve burns. The | | | | so installation and retrofit in older homes is easy. |
| degree of injury varies but too many result in | | | | TAKE THE TIME - ITS WORTH IT This one act |
| serious and at time fatal consequences. Even | | | | can help you avoid preventable home injuries |
| minor injuries can leave emotional trauma. | | | | caused by electrical outlets. Make a safer |
| Because the skin is thin on young children, burns | | | | environment in your home for you and your child. |
| become very serious as it offers little resistance | | | | Install tamper proof outlets—you will never |
| to heat or electric flow so burns are deeper and | | | | regret it. |
| scaring is more severe. | | | | 2008 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE (NEC) |
| PREVENTION IS IMPORTANT AND CHEAP | | | | BASICS |
| Plastic outlet covers are common for parents | | | | The updates took effect with the 2008 NEC, and |
| with infants and toddlers in the house. Although | | | | municipalities and states have to adopt the Code. |
| they cover the socket holes, they are easily | | | | NEC Article 406.11 states that all 125-volt. 15 and |
| removed by children and therefore not as safe as | | | | 20 amp outlets shall be listed as tamper-resistant |
| parents would hope. The safest solution would be | | | | outlets. The Code applies to new homes for single |
| to install tamper resistant outlets. These newly | | | | and multi-family construction. |
| designed receptacles so effective in preventing | | | | |