Extension cords: injury statistics
Extension cords. Burns, shocks and trips. In 2025 they were involved in an estimated 5,056 emergency room visits in the US.
ER visits per year
2016–2025 · 110 sampled cases in 2025Extension cord voltage drop calculator
Injury type
Share of ER visits, 2021–2025
Body part injured
Share of ER visits, 2021–2025
Age of injured people
39% male · 2021–2025
Real cases
From NEISS case narratives, 2024–2025. Abbreviations expanded.
Recalls of extension cords
Shenzhen Shijingjie Network Technology Male-to-Male Extension Cords Recalled Due to Risk of Serious Injury and Death from Electrocution and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazards; Sold on Walmart2026-04-09 · Fire, Laceration, ShockExtension cordsSales BSD Recalls Homerygardens Extension Cord Splitters Due to Fire Hazard (Recall Alert)2020-10-15 · FireExtension cordsHoward Berger Recalls Extension Cords and Power Strips Due to Fire Hazard2010-03-31 · FireExtension cordsQuestions
How many people are injured by extension cords each year?
About 5,056 people were treated in US emergency rooms for injuries involving extension cords in 2025, according to CPSC's NEISS estimates. The average over 2021–2025 was 5,167 a year.
What are the most common injuries from extension cords?
Fracture is the most common diagnosis (24% of cases 2021–2025), and the head is the most often injured body part (16%).
How often do injuries from extension cords need hospital admission?
13.0% of ER visits ended with the patient admitted or transferred to another hospital in 2021–2025.
About these numbers
National estimates from the CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), product code 685. A case is counted if the tool appears in any of its three product fields. Estimates under 1,200 or based on fewer than 20 cases are flagged. Methodology · CSV
