You know how when your kids are small and you child-proof your house and you especially watch them around electrical outlets because they're really dangerous? Well, nobody tells you that you need to keep warning your kids well into their older years too.
Yesterday at school, Taylor was in her TLC class doing a lights and lasers module. She went to plug in the machine she was using and the electrical outlet pretty much exploded. She got quite a shock! She said she saw "blue fire" all around the outlet and it hurt quite a bit. Her friends told her that her legs were shaking and her eyes were dilated. Mr. Mitchell told her to call me which she did.
I don't know if your kid has ever called you and said, "I was electrocuted at school today" but I wasn't really prepared to hear this. She sounded all right and there was only an hour of school left, so I told her to go find the school nurse and get checked out and call me back. The nurse thought she was fine, her heart rate was a little high, but she was feeling shocky (no pun intended) so I decided to go pick her up and bring her home just to be on the safe side.
When I got to the school, she was being wheeled down the hallway on a chair by her teacher and the school nurse. She was acting as though she might pass out at any moment. There may have been a little extra drama going on, but we got her out of the school and into the car and home, where she slept it off for a while. Her principal called a while later to see if she was doing okay. Taylor was happy about that.
She was fine after a few hours, in fact, she went to play Ward basketball later in the evening. That wasn't the best idea however since she felt pretty crappy when she got back.
Today, she was glad to see how many people had heard what happened and were worried about her. She was a little freaked out by the fact that she "almost died." I told her to ask for extra credit in her TLC class, after all, how many people get electrocuted in class, it should be worth a few "experience points!" When she asked her teacher, he said he already posted the points to her grade! LOL. Besides repairing the outlet/cord, that was the least he could do!
PS--Taylor wanted everyone to know that this in NOT an actual photo, but was just her mom being dumb!!! LOL :)
The problem your dau-ghter is more common than you think. It is caused by something called a glowing connection. I have been on a crusade to save lives and property for the last 14 years. I was an electrical contractor in NYC and saw many electrical fires in receptacles (wall outlets). I had discovered that there was an overheating problem in the connection points of the outlets where the wires connect and at the insertion point of the male plug. Have you ever had a male plug that was loose in an outlet? That can be the beginning of a phenomenon called a Glowing Connection.
ReplyDeleteOutlets wear out over time. They become defective and cause fires, lots of fires. I invented a simple solution to the problem, temperature sensing outlets, power strips, cords etc. It has taken 14 years to produce a product that can prevent this problem. It has been a David and Goliath situation.
All the major wiring device companies showed interest in the beginning, but said no thanks, until the Tobacco Industry got caught lying to congress about cigarettes -- They are a defective product, they can kill people over time. Well so is an outlet they can become defective and can kill people over time! This is a National and International problem. I have been involved with the Consumer Products Commission (CPSC) Underwriters Laboratory (UL); NYS fire commissioner, Insurance companies and numerous others.
When I gave up my business to peruse my dream of preventing these fires , I thought the world would embrace my idea of outlets and wiring devices with temperature sensing so that when there is an over temperature condition they will shut them self down. This principal has been used in small motors, fluorescent lighting, street lighting, recessed lighting, etc. This is to prevent over heating and shut down before a fire could start. (Did you ever see a street light turn off and then turn on again. This is due to temperature sensing in these devices to prevent a fire.
The world does not know that outlets cause fires and that the problem is NOT overloading, lives and property.
Temperature sensing outlets will finally be in the market place this month. I feel that I have won the David and Goliath battle and want to share this with the world. and tell people about this problem. I have TONS of information on this subject and 1000's of articles about this exact problem. I have put in submissions to the NEC (National Electrical Code) to require these outlets. In your daughters case what heppens is that the plastic of the outlet starts to vaporize ( it is an oil based product ) the box that the outlet is in becomes filled with the vapor and explodes. I think this is probably what happened
Bob K.
Wow! Thanks for the insight!
ReplyDeleteHey, Taylor loved the picture, That's crazy how that happened but a good lesson to
ReplyDeletehave plug ins checked over. So glad things turned out ok tho, great talking to you
this morning.
My gosh it is a pretty day, would like to open a window but Mom gets to cold.
Please, remember Aunt Roxy in your prayers.
Scott I seen Billy at the Carmalite Fair and also at the Mall before Christmas
he has a daughter about Taylor's age and then a little boy that is probably getting
close to a year old. I can call his mom and check to see if he has a email for you
if you want. Sorry , I missed you this morning,
Love to all. Be careful and safe. Mom J.
Wow, Taylor, you really have been through something! I LOVE the picture your mom posted of you..I hope you will have no side effects. Now you have a story to tell. Love ya!
ReplyDeleteSister Melanie
You can't say you had a true childhood if you didn't get electrocuted at least once. :)
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
ReplyDeleteTough way to get an A! Hope you don't have any repeat performances. Keep up the great work and let your curiosity continue to lead your adventures.
We are glad that you are OK. Love, Papa & Gramma Pam
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteI always knew you had an 'electrifying' personality, but this is rediculous! I am very glad that you are still with us and destined to 'illuminate' the future.
(I tried to post to your page, but I don't have the right access.)
Love from Papa & Gramma Pam
Hehe, so long as the kid was ok, and they learned a lesson from it, no harm done!
ReplyDelete