For Immediate Release Contact: Brett Brenner
January 2008 703.841.3296
Arlington, VA – Nearly 2,400 children each year – seven children a day – are treated in hospitals for shocks and burns from electrical outlets.[1] Most of these injuries are the result of small children placing ordinary household items into the outlets with disastrous consequences. However, using tamper-resistant outlets as required in the new 2008 National Electrical Code could all but eliminate this hazard says the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).
Tamper-resistant outlets look like normal wall outlets but inside they feature a shutter mechanism that protects children from sticking hairpins, keys, paper clips and other foreign objects into the receptacle. The spring-loaded shutter system in the outlet only allows electricity to flow when equal pressure is applied simultaneously to both shutters such as when an electrical plug is inserted. During unused conditions, both outlet shutters and openings are covered.
Unfortunately, not every state will benefit from this life-saving technology immediately. The 2008 National Electrical Code (NEC) is a standard developed by the National Fire Protection Association and it does not become law until it is officially adopted by each state. Based on historical adoption rates, most states and cities can be expected to adopt the 2008 NEC within two years.
"It is important to note, that the 2008 code only applies to the construction of new homes," says Brett Brenner, President of ESFI. For less than two dollars an outlet, parents can protect their children regardless of how old their home is. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.”
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) reminds everyone that electricity is a powerful tool. It can also be a lethal hazard. Better safety standards have reduced electrical hazards that cause deaths, injuries and property damage. But good safety habits are still the best prevention against electrical hazards.
To learn more about ESFI and electrical safety, visit www.electrical-safety.org.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety. Established in 1994, ESFI proudly sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May and focuses on raising public education to help reduce property damage, personal injury and death due to electrical accidents.
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[1] Statistics based on analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission data over a 10 year period (1991-2001)
