Profile of a typical victim and incident:
- Male
- 2 or 3 years old
- Injured at home
- Inserted a hairpin into a receptacle
- Suffered a 1st or 2nd degree electric burn to a finger
- Emotional trauma to child and parents
- Required emergency room treatment
Objects inserted are everyday, easily accessible household items:
| Hairpin – 32% | Unidentified – 8% |
| Keys – 17% | Paper clip or Staple – 5% |
| Finger – 12% | Tool (i.e. tweezer, file, or knife) – 3% |
| Pin, wire, screw or nail – 11% | Jewelry or belt buckle – 1% |
| Plug – 11% |
An analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) data over a 10 year period (1991 – 2001) found:
- 24,000+ children under 10 years old were treated in emergency rooms for incidents related to electrical receptacles – about 7 children per day
- 89% are under 6 years old
- 50% are 2-3 years old, the highest-risk group
- Boys are the highest risk, regardless of age
A Canadian Hospital Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) 8-year study (1996 – 2003) of 14 hospitals found:
- 465 children under 9 years old were treated in emergency rooms for incidents related to electrical receptacles
- Close to 85% were under 4 years of age
- Most cases required advice and follow-up
- 3% were admitted or transferred
- 40% were between 3-6 years old
- 79% were injured at home
- 69% were injured when an object was placed in an outlet
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Business Information Services Estimates:
- Tamper Resistant Receptacles are only 50 cent more than a traditional receptacle
- Increase cost of $2.25 per unit for a GFCI receptacle with Tamper Resistant features
- Total increase cost per average home to install Tamper Resistant Receptacles is under $50
