Each year nearly 2,400 children are injured due to a lack of electrical safety in the home such as putting objects into electrical outlets, with the vast majority of these incidents involving children under the age of six. The objects inserted range from keys to toys and hairpins. You have probably seen these plastic outlet caps that you put over the socket to prevent anything being inserted and although this is certainly better than nothing, they can often easily be removed by a young child.
However, there is another simple way to prevent what could a very serious, even fatal, injury to children and that is to fit Tamper-resistant outlets (TROs). In fact TROs have been so effective in preventing injuries to children that in 2008 the National Electrical Code was changed to require that they are installed into all new homes built. That is good news for new homes but what about existing homes?
The great news if that these products can be easily fitted to existing homes as well and cost as little as $2 per outlet. They work by having an internal shutter mechanism that allows electricity to flow when equal pressure is applied at the same time to both shutters, such as when an electrical plug is inserted. When not in use both shutters are closed and the openings covered therefore meaning nothing can be inserted that shouldn’t be.
The process for installing TROs is identical to installing standard receptacles with the average cost for a whole house being around $50; a must for anyone who has young children or visits from young children, such as grandparents.
If you were involved in an accident, please call the Poughkeepsie accident attorneys of Denlea & Carton LLP., at (914) 331-0100 right away or contact us online today.