Parents are being warned to ensure phone chargers are not left plugged in around children, after a mother claimed her daughter suffered a serious electrical burn.
Courtney Davis, from the US, shared photos on Facebook of her 19-month-old daughter who had got hold of her phone charger and sucked on it.
The mum immediately took her toddler to the doctor, who she said confirmed her child had an electric burn. The toddler is being referred to a plastic surgeon.
Responding to the Facebook post that has been shared 300,000 times, Sheila Merrill, public health adviser for The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) told HuffPost UK: “Mobile phone chargers are a common feature of an everyday household, and if left plugged in can cause severe burns, as well as being an increased fire hazard.”
Merrill continued: “Babies and young children are naturally inquisitive, and are tempted to put things in their mouths. Unfortunately this can include wires.
“We want parents, grandparents, childminders and carers to be aware of the danger and understand that these seemingly harmless phone chargers can cause serious injury to children.”
A burns specialist from RoSPA told HuffPost UK parents should be warned that if a child bites or chews through an electrical cable carrying a mains charge, it can lead to a serious and “potentially disabling” electrical injury.
Speaking about her daughter’s burn on Facebook, Davis added: “It took all of a few seconds for her to get burned.
“She had never tried to put it in her mouth [before] and she had never messed with it.
“My daughter was lucky, the next kid may not be as lucky as her.”