January 29, 2020

Every day seven children in the U.S. are treated at hospital emergency rooms for injuries caused by inserting objects into electrical outlets. That’s 2,400 children a year.

These injuries can be easily prevented with tamper resistant receptacles (TRRs).

TRRs are special outlets that feature built in safety shutters that block foreign objects from being inserted into the receptacle. The shutters only open when pressure is simultaneously and equally applied to both sides, such as when a plug is inserted. While plugs can be inserted and removed as usual, the shutter remains closed when the outlet is not in use, and cannot be penetrated with objects such as keys, paper clips or hairpins.

TRRs are much more effective than traditional plastic outlet covers. In one major study, every child between the ages of 2 to 4 tested was able to remove a plastic outlet cover in under 10  seconds. TRRs have proven so effective that the National Electric Code has required them in newly constructed homes for more than a decade.

Find out more about TRRs and protecting children from electricity in the home.