When you leave your child with a daycare provider, that provider is responsible for the wellbeing of your child. That means that the daycare provider must do everything possible to minimize the chances that your child will be harmed.
About one-fifth of Illinois electrical injuries and deaths involve children. Children are especially at risk because they do not understand that electricity can cause harm. This means that Illinois daycares must take precautions to protect children from electrical hazards.
- Children should not play near outlets, cords or wires.
- Children should not play near utility poles, power lines, or the support wires on pole or near substations, utility towers, or transformers.
- Toys should be kept away from overhead lines.
- Every electric outlet should have a wall plate so wiring is not exposed.
- Children should be supervised at all times. Children should never be allowed to put fingers or other objects into electrical outlets.
- Children should not plug in or unplug appliances.
- Safety covers should be placed over all unused electric outlets. These keep children from putting fingers in outlets and prevent electric shock.
- Never use an electrical appliance when bathing a child or when the child is wet.
- Never bathe a child during a storm.
- Children should be kept inside and away from water, facets, pipes, outlets, and windows during a storm.
If a child sustains an electrical injury while at an Illinois daycare, the child care provider may be found liable and may have to pay damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, and costs associated with wrongful death. For more information contact the Rockford personal injury attorneys at Hupy and Abraham at 815-877-3900.