ESFI Helps Protect Children from Holiday Electrical Hazards

Arlington, VA–The holiday season is a special time of year filled with gatherings and decorations; however, it is also a time when it can be easy to overlook the increased dangers young children face. Fortunately, parents and guardians can prevent these tragedies before they happen by recognizing and removing the additional shock and fire hazards that the winter months bring.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, deaths related to fires caused by children at play are surprisingly high during the winter months – and the number of children injured or killed by fires more than doubles during the holiday season.

“Electrical accidents involving children dramatically increase when adult supervision is not present,” said Brett Brenner, president of the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). “To help teach children how to spot holiday safety risks in and around the home, ESFI has produced a new animated video featuring our official mascot, Mr. Plug.”

ESFI recommends the following tips to help keep young children safe during the holiday season:

• Keep young children away from holiday lights, electrical decorations and extension cords to prevent electrical shock and burn injuries.

• When visiting family and friends, make sure that the home is safe for young children. Look for and eliminate potential dangers around electrical outlets, candles, and exposed electrical cords.

• Avoid hanging Christmas tree lights, ornaments, metal hooks, and other small decorations on the lower limbs of the tree where they could easily be reached by a small child.

• Never leave a child unattended while cooking or when a stove is within reach.

• Never use space heaters in rooms where children are unsupervised. Children may stick their fingers or other objects through the protective guards, causing burns or shock.

• Replace electrical toys with battery-operated alternatives for children under ten years old.

• Avoid buying toys that might be flammable, and be sure all electrical toys bear a safety label from a nationally-recognized testing laboratory such as UL, CSA, or ETL.

Click HERE to download a complete PDF version of this press release.

ESFI's new holiday video, Private I. Plug Presents Holiday Safety, is now available for preview and download by visiting the Safety Videos section of this Web site.

Visit www.electrical-safety.org to learn more about ESFI and electrical safety.