SOUTH BEND -- It's an alarming statistic, one local fire official says.

Each year in the United States, between 3,000 and 5,000 people -- mostly young children -- are hurt by inserting objects into electrical outlets. And 70 percent of those occur with adult supervision around.

It's a number some would like to see drop significantly.

"Anything that will reduce the chance of someone getting hurt is worth it," said Dave Cherrone, fire marshal for Clay Fire Territory.

One group is making a push for Indiana to adopt the 2008 National Electrical Code, which requires all new homes to have tamper-resistant electrical outlets. The Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission excluded the measure, Section 406.11, from the state electrical code -- making the state the first to do so, according to a news release from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).

According to NEMA -- which says 35 other states have adopted the code -- the Indiana Residential Code is being revised. The Indiana Residential Code Review Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday in Lawrence, Ind., to hear testimony regarding 406.11.

The tamper-resistant outlets' built-in shutter system is designed to prevent a child from inserting objects into the outlet. The plugs, which act as almost a key to open the outlet, can be inserted and removed as usual. The receptacles, which have been used by medical facilities for years, are permanent and do not have to be removed.

Cherrone believes it's a good idea to make the provision part of code.

"A child can take a poke at it but can't get it to move," he said. "It needs some continuous force to keep it open."

He has seen a number of different products used to protect outlets over the years, including the temporary ones that you pull in and out of the outlet. That, he said, can lead people to forget to put them back in. But the permanent plugs seem to be a better idea, Cherrone said.

"Making it part of the code for a new structure, or remodeling -- you have a reason to tell the person doing the work to put the things in."

Staff writer Tom Moor:
tmoor@sbtinfo.com
(574) 247-7756