Electrical accidents and electrical fires are responsible for thousands of child injuries every year in the United States. Curious children will stick their fingers and toys in unused plug holes, put electrical appliances in their mouths, and even fly kites near power lines, all of which can result in serious injuries and even death. That’s why it’s so important for adults to be aware of electrical hazards so that they may teach children about the safety rules of unused wall outlets and other electrical equipment. Below, our Alexandria electricians break down everything you need to know about electrical safety for kids, so that you can sleep soundly at night knowing your child is safe.
If you have children, it’s always a good idea to schedule an electrical safety inspection in Alexandria every once in a while. Electrical inspectors can check for any fire or shock hazards around your house so that an electrician can make repairs, replacements, and/or upgrades. At Lombardi Electric, we do it all: electrical inspections, repairs, replacements, upgrades, you name it. Allow us to keep your family safe. Call our team of Alexandria electricians at 318-545-7575 today.
How Many Kids Suffer From Electrical Shock Injuries Every Year?
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, upwards of 2,400 children in the United States suffer from electrical shock injuries every year, mostly from sticking their fingers in unused outlets.
The National Electrical Code strongly recommends that all parents of young children should have Tamper Resistant Receptacles (TRRs) for all unused wall outlets. TRRs block foreign objects, like small fingers and metal objects, from being inserted into the holes. They are far more safe and effective than those plastic outlet caps, which children can remove within seconds.
Even still, the Electrical Safety Foundation states that about ⅓ of parents haven’t childproofed their outlets, and 86% of parents who do childproof their outlets use the plastic safety caps.
Why Electricity is So Dangerous to the Human Body
Electrical shocks and electrocutions are extremely dangerous for the average adult body, and especially dangerous for children. If you’ve ever accidentally been shocked by static electricity, you know that it can happen quickly, in less than a second, and it’s very painful. But being shocked by static electricity is relatively harmless compared to suffering from an actual electrical shock.
Human bodies are good conductors of electricity because our bodies are 70% water, and electricity flows well through water. So in the right circumstances, electricity can literally enter and exit the body, as if it’s truly part of a circuit. We can also suffer extensive burns from electricity, especially if electrical fires occur.
Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of an Electric Shock
Electrical shocks and electrocutions most commonly occur from broken electric appliances, downed power lines, lightning, electrical outlets, and electrical wires. However, a study states that approximately 50% of all electrical injuries happen in the workplace, usually in blue-collar positions like construction and manufacturing. The severity of electrical injuries depends on voltage. As little as 110 to 120 volts can result in a mild shock injury, which is the average voltage that runs through most households. We go over what all will fail an electrical inspection for parents wanting to take a proactive approach today!
Someone who experiences an electric shock or electrocution can experience the following short-term effects:
- Burns
- Seizures
- Irregular heartbeat
- Unconsciousness
- Headaches
- Tingling sensations in the body
- Muscle spasms
Someone who experiences an electric shock can also experience a wide range of physical, psychological, and neurological long-term effects, including:
- Chronic pain
- Fatigue
- Muscle spasms
- Joint stiffness
- Damage to the internal organs
- Night sweats
- Headaches
- Memory loss
- Tingling sensations
- Difficulty balancing
- Fainting spells
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and/or PTSD
- Reduced attention span
What is the Let-Go Threshold?
Something important to understand about electrical accidents is the “let-go threshold.” The let-go threshold is the point where someone’s muscles contract during an electrocution to the point where they cannot let go of the electrical device unless someone intervenes. Below, we list the human body’s response to varying milliamps (mA) of electrical currents.
- 0.2-2 mA: Similar to a static electricity shock.
- 1-2+ mA: A very painful shock.
- 3-5 mA: The let-go threshold for young children.
- 6-10mA: The average adult may struggle to let go of the electrical source.
- 10-20 mA: The body will seize at the contact point.
- 22 mA: Maximum let-go threshold for adults.
- 20-50mA: Possible full-body seizures.
- 50-100 mA: Possible life-threatening heartbeat irregularities.
What to Do if an Electrical Shock or Electrocution Happens
If your child suffers a shock from electrical equipment, it’s important to act fast and correctly.
- Firstly, DO NOT touch the person suffering from a shock or electrocution, because you could become shocked or electrocuted too. Remember, human bodies are very good conductors for electricity.
- If you can do so safely, turn off or unplug the electrical source immediately, because the child may not be able to let go of the source themselves. You might have to use another object made of plastic or wood to safely move the electrical source.
- Call 911 immediately after turning off or unplugging the source of electricity.
- Check the child for a pulse. If they aren’t breathing and don’t have a pulse, perform CPR until medical professionals arrive on the scene.
- If you notice that the child is incredibly pale, weak, or faint, then help them lay down with their feet elevated above their head.
Top Electrical Safety Tips for Kids
An electrical accident can result in a serious injury or disability, especially for children. That’s why we must teach kids about electrical safety from an early age. Be sure to follow the electrical safety tips below, adequately childproof your home, and educate your child about electrical hazards once they’re old enough to understand.
- Make sure you have Tamper Resistant Receptacles (TRRs) for all unused electrical outlets in your home. If you don’t, young children will stick fingers and other objects into the outlets and potentially suffer from a shock.
- If your home has outdoor outlets or outlets near water sources such as sinks, be sure to install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs), which will shut off power immediately if it detects an issue. We dive into GFCI’s here: What is a GFCI outlet?
- Do not yank electrical cords straight out of the wall. Yanking could damage electric cords and electric appliances, which could result in a shock.
- Do not use damaged or frayed cords for your electrical devices. This could lead to both fire and shock accidents.
- Store electrical appliances away from children. You never know what they might try to play with or put in their mouth.
- Keep all extension cords and electrical cords out of the way of people, doors, and rugs.
- Keep all electrical appliances, such as hair dryers, power tools, and even phone chargers, away from water. If an appliance is wet, don’t try to plug it in or it could shock you or your child.
- Do not install swimming pools underneath or near power lines. As stated earlier, electricity can easily flow through water, so in the event of a downed power line, kids and other swimmers can suffer serious injuries.
- Similarly, do not install a tree house or other outdoor play area beneath overhead power lines. It only takes one freak accident to suffer serious, and possible lifelong injuries.
- Don’t fly kites near power lines. Electricity will find the quickest way to hit the ground, and sometimes this means traveling through something as thin as a kite string.
- Teach kids to never touch electrical devices and appliances while still wet from the bath or a swimming pool.
- Instruct kids to not climb trees that are near power lines. Branches that touch the wires can transfer electricity to the nearest human body.
- Similarly, instruct kids to avoid climbing a utility pole. These poles can cause immediate death from the extremely high voltage of electricity.
- Teach kids to stay away from broken or fallen power lines, especially after a storm. Touching electric lines can potentially be fatal, especially for children.
- Kids should never play on transformer boxes, especially if they have warning signs on them.
- Similarly, kids should never attempt to play in electrical substations, which usually have a fence surrounding them. If a toy or object happens to fall within fenced off electric substations, children should not attempt to climb or open the fence to retrieve the object. Instead, call local authorities for assistance.
Call Lombardi Electric Today
If you have children and you’re worried about electrical hazards inside and around your home, it’s a good idea to schedule a residential electrical safety inspection with a professional at Lombardi Electric. We’ll check for fire hazards, shock hazards, and any other potentially dangerous electrical issues within your home. Then, we’ll fix any electrical hazards that we find so that you can sleep soundly at night, knowing your family is safe. Call one of our Alexandria electricians at 318-545-7575 today.
