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THE STATISTICSThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSO) estimates that each year, about 4,000 injuries associated with
electric extension cords are treated in hospital emergency rooms. About
half the injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions, or sprains
from people tripping over extension cords. Thirteen percent of the
injuries involve children under-five years of age; electrical burns to the
mouth accounted for half the injuries to young children.
CPSC also
estimates that about 3,300 residential fires originate in extension cords
each year, killing 50 people and injuring about 270 others. The most
frequent causes of such fires are short circuits, overloading, damage,
and/or misuse of extension cords.
THE PROBLEMFollowing are CPSC investigations of injuries
that illustrate the major accident patterns associated with extension
cords, namely children putting extension cords in their mouths, overloaded
cords, worn or damaged cords, and tripping over cords:
A
15-month-old girl put an extension cord In her mouth and suffered an
electrical burn. She required surgery.
Two young children were
injured In a fire caused by an overloaded extension cord in their family's
home. A lamp, TV set, and electric heater had been plugged Into a single,
light-duty extension cord.
A 65-year old woman was treated for a
fractured ankle after tripping over an extension cord.
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THE STANDARDSThe National Electrical Code says that many
cord-connected appliances should be equipped with polarized grounding type
plugs. Polarized plugs have one blade slightly wider than the other and
can only be inserted one way into the outlet. Polarization and grounding
ensure that certain parts of appliances that could have a higher risk of
electric shock when they become live are instead connected to the neutral,
or grounded, side of the circuit. Such electrical products should only be
used with polarized or grounding type extension cords.
Voluntary
industry safety standards, including those of Underwriters Laboratories
Inc.(UL), now require that general use extension cords have safety
closures, warning labels, rating information about the electrical current,
and other added features for the protection of children and other
consumers.
In addition, UL-listed extension cords now must be
constructed with #16 gauge or larger wire, or be equipped with integral
fuses. The #16 gauge wire is rated to carry 13 amperes (up to 1560 watts),
as compared to the formerly-used # 18 gauge cords that were rated for 10
amperes (up to 1200 watts).
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SAFETY SUGGESTIONS
CPSC has the following recommendations for the purchase and
safe use of extension cords:
* Use extension cords only when
necessary and only on a temporary basis.
* Use polarized extension
cords with polarized appliances.
* Make sure cords do not dangle
from the counter or table tops where they can be pulled down or tripped
over.
* Replace cracked or worn extension cords with new. #16 gauge
cords that have the listing, of a nationally-recognized testing
laboratory, safety closures, and other safety features.
* With
cords lacking safety closures, cover any unused outlets with electrical
tape or with plastic caps to prevent the chance of a child making contact
with the live circuit.
* Insert plugs fully so that no part of the
prongs are exposed when the extension cord is in use.
* When
disconnecting cords, pull the plug rather than the cord itself.
*
Teach children not to play with plugs and outlets.
* Use only
three-wire extension cords for appliances with three-prong plugs. Never
remove the third (round or U-shaped) prong, which is a safety feature
designed to reduce the risk of shock and electrocution.
| * In locations where furniture or beds may be pushed against
an extension cord where the cord joins the plug, use a special "angle
extension cord," which is specifically designed for use in these
instances.
* Check the plug and the body of the extension cord
while the cord is in use. Noticeable warming of these plastic parts is
expected when cords are being used at their maximum rating, however, if
the cord feels hot or if there is a softening of the plastic, this is a
warning that the plug wires or connections are failing and that the
extension cord should be discarded and replaced.
* Never use an
extension cord while it is coiled or looped. Never cover any part of an
extension cord with newspapers, clothing, rugs, or any objects while the
cord is in use. Never place an extension cord where it is likely to be
damaged by heavy furniture or foot traffic.
* Don't use staples or
nails to attach extension cords to a baseboard or to another surface. This
could damage the cord and present a shock or fire hazard.
* Don't
overload extension cords by plugging in appliances that draw a total of
more watts than the rating of the cord.
* Use special, heavy duty
extension cords for high wattage appliances such as air conditioners,
portable electric heaters, and freezers.
* When using outdoor tools
and appliances, use only extension cords labeled for outdoor
use.
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Consumer Product Safety Commission, Extension Cords Fact Sheet, CPSC Document #16
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