With the wide spread use of electricity at home and work place, the number of people sustaining electrical injuries is on the rise. The paediatric age group constitutes a small proportion of all electric burn injuries cases; however due to their young age it is often associated with significant morbidity and long-term pscho-social implications. The present study attempts to know the demographic distribution, place of occurrence, pattern of electrical injuries, regions predominantly affected, associated injuries, mortality periods and causes of death in the paediatric age group i.e. 1 month to 14 years. A total of 33 cases of death by electrical injuries were reported over a period of 5 years. The findings in this group have been represented in this study with males in the age group of 7 to 14 years being affected the most. Most of the deaths have occurred outside the home of the unfortunate children, on the streets and public lands where high voltage currents are prevalent. The upper limbs were commonly affected, contact marks seen in maximum number of cases. One third of the cases died instantaneously primarily due to burns shock. The disregard to safety measures, lack of concern and standards with regards electric infrastructure, by the civic bodies and the people in general, has lead to the loss of innocent lives. The cost of negligence by the public should not be borne by children.

Keywords:  electrical injuries, paediatric age group, burns, voltage.

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Dr Pavan P N

Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kanti Devi Medical College and Research Hospital, Mathura