Caring for Our Children (CFOC)

Chapter 5: Facilities, Supplies, Equipment, and Environmental Health

5.2 Quality of the Outdoor and Indoor Environment

5.2.4 Electrical Fixtures and Outlets

5.2.4.6: Electrical Cords


Electrical cords should be placed beyond children’s reach.
RATIONALE
Severe injuries have occurred in child care when children have pulled appliances like crock-pots down onto themselves by pulling on the cord (1). Injuries have occurred in child care when children pulled appliances such as tape players down on themselves by pulling on the cord (2). When children chew on an appliance cord, they can reach the wires and suffer severe disfiguring mouth injuries (3).
TYPE OF FACILITY
Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home
REFERENCES
  1. Lowell, G., K. Quinlan, L. J. Gottlieb. 2008. Preventing unintentional scald burns: Moving beyond tap water. Pediatrics 122:799-804.
  2. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC safety alert. The tipping point: Preventing TV, furniture, and appliance tip-over deaths and injuries. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5004.pdf.
  3. Healthy Children. 2010. Health issues: Electric shock. http://www
    .healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/pages/Electric-Shock.aspx.