What causes Electrical Burns?

Electrical burns result from accidental contact with exposed parts of electrical appliances or wiring, such as:

• Children biting on electrical cords
• Poking utensils or other metal objects into electrical outlets or appliances, such as a plugged-in toaster
• Failing to shut the power supply before making home repairs or installation
• Dropping a plugged-in appliance into water
• Occupational accidents due to, for example, electric arcs from high-voltage power lines. (Electric arcs occur when a burst of electricity jumps from one electrical conductor to another, such as flashes of electricity from the wheels of an electrically powered train or where a trolley car connects to an overhead power line.)