04/09/2026
ARKANSAS FRIENDS: I need your help to save lives.
On April 21st, I am appearing before the State Board of Electrical Examiners. I am fighting to adopt new safety standards that would prevent one of the most common causes of childhood burns: appliances being pulled off kitchen islands.
Under the old 2020 rules, outlets are required on the sides of islands. These create dangling cords that children (and adults) snag, pulling down crockpots, deep fryers, and coffee makers. The new 2026 safety standards takes these receptacles from the sides of the islands and put them into the countertop to prevent these tragedies from happening.
The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) provided the data that changed the NEC. Between 1991 and 2020, an estimated 9,700 people were treated in ERs for injuries specifically related to appliance cords being pulled from island/peninsula receptacles.
Research shows that scald burns from slow cookers are the most frequent injury, often resulting in 2nd and 3rd-degree burns that require skin grafts.
Over 40% of these victims are children under age 5.
Have you or a loved one in Arkansas ever been burned or injured because an appliance was pulled off a counter or island by its cord?
If you have a story, please comment or DM me. I need real-life Arkansas examples to show the Board that "convenient outlets" aren't worth the risk of a lifetime of burn scars. We need to show the board that these types of accidents have happened in Arkansas.
Please share this! The deadline to submit these stories is April 20th.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I appreciate anyone's input on this matter.
David Gray
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