Age appropriateness and safety of electric outlet protectors for children.

Publications and guidelines relating to the safe use of electric outlet protectors are reviewed and summarized. 37 children, 2 and 4 years old, participated in the assessment of three different styles of outlet protectors 43 adults also participated in the assessment by removing the outlet protectors. A series of three outlet protectors were used to compare the difficulty of removing each protector. None of the three outlet protectors could prevent all the 2- and 4-yr.-olds from access to the electrical outlet openings. One style of outlet protector was much easier than the other two for the children to gain access to the electrical outlet openings. Results of this study indicate some outlet protectors may provide a false security to parents who elect to use these devices in the home.