Electrical Hazards for Children & Related Legal Claims
An electric shock occurs when a person comes into contact with an electricity source, causing a current to pass through their body. Electric shocks may cause burns, nerve or tissue damage, spinal fractures, or brain damage. In some cases, cardiac arrest or even death may result. The severity of the injury often depends on the level of the voltage and the length of time for which the person was in contact with the electricity.
The small bodies of children make them especially susceptible to severe injuries from electric shocks. Their natural curiosity may cause them to poke metal objects into outlets or appliances, play with cords or wires, or put metal objects in their mouths. In other situations, improper wiring or a defective household product may cause an electric shock incident.
Legal Claims Based on Electric Shock
When an electric shock incident results from a defective product, parents may have a personal injury claim against the manufacturer of the product. They would need to prove that the product had a flaw in its design or manufacturing, or in the instructions or warnings attached to it. This flaw must have directly caused the injuries that the child suffered. If they succeed in their claim, parents may be able to recover the costs of medical treatment for the child, as well as damages for the child’s pain and suffering and other subjective harm. If the child suffers a permanent disability, costs such as assistive devices and home modifications also may be recovered.
An entity responsible for faulty wiring also may bear at least some liability for causing an electric shock. In this situation, parents would need to prove that the defendant was negligent, which means that they failed to use reasonable care under the circumstances. This differs from a claim based on a defective product, in which parents likely would not need to show a lack of reasonable care. However, similar damages would be available.
Preventing and Responding to Electric Shock Incidents
Parents should carefully supervise their children when they are near electrical hazards. They should check the insulation on wires and cover outlets. When appliances, wires, or cords are worn out or damaged, parents should get rid of them. They should discuss the proper use of electrical appliances with their children and warn them not to use these items in a bathroom or pool. (Serious harm may result if an electrical appliance falls into the water.) Parents should warn children not to play with electricity or fiddle with cords or outlets.
If a child suffers an electric shock, a parent should not touch the child while the current is still flowing. They should disconnect the power supply before touching the child. If they need to remove a live wire from a child, they should use a dry, non-metallic object that does not conduct electricity to move the wire. If they cannot remove the electricity source, they can try to remove the child from the source after insulating themselves with a non-conductive object to prevent the current from passing to their body. If the child is not breathing or does not have a detectable heartbeat, parents should try to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the child and call 911. Otherwise, parents should check the child for burns and get medical assistance.
