Power & cords · #31 of 45 by ER visits

Portable generators: injury statistics

Portable and standby generators. In 2025 they were involved in an estimated 4,834 emergency room visits in the US.

Portable generators
Photo: smartins20 / Unsplash
4,834
ER visits in 2025
16%
admitted or transferred
+90%
change since 2016
21%
aged 65 or over

ER visits per year

2016–2025 · 88 sampled cases in 2025
2016: 2,54616’2017: 8,92217’2018: 4,94618’2019: 3,21519’2020: 2,74220’2021: 2,86021’2022: 4,21422’2023: 4,39723’2024: 4,24924’2025: 4,83425’
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Injury type

Share of ER visits, 2021–2025

Anoxia31%
Other19%
Strain or sprain13%
Fracture10%
Laceration6.6%
Contusion or abrasion5.1%

Body part injured

Share of ER visits, 2021–2025

All of body33%
Lower trunk15%
Upper trunk11%
Finger6.3%
Shoulder6.3%
Head5.3%

Age of injured people

69% male · 2021–2025

0-43.5%
5-145.9%
15-247.8%
25-4429%
45-6433%
65-7412%
75+8.8%

Real cases

From NEISS case narratives, 2024–2025. Abbreviations expanded.

37-year-old female with carbon monoxide poisoning from generator co level 210 — diagnosis: Carbon monoxide toxicity.
54-year-old female complains of shortness of breath. States her husband was working on a generator when 2 gallons of gas spilled. Her bedroom is adjacent to gasoline spill location. Now with headache, nausea, and sob. States she has been smelling gasoline fumes.
43-year-old male presented after being electrocuted about 30-45 minutes prior to arrival. Patient states he grabbed a chain while working on some tools and touched it on a commutator of generatorwith 220 volts and was shocked on his arm with chest tightness. — diagnosis:.
26-year-old male fell against a generator — diagnosis: Head laceration.
Recalls

Recalls of portable generators

27 since 2010
Generac Power Systems Recalls Portable Generators Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Burn and Fire Hazards2026-04-16 · FirePortable generatorsGenerac Recalls Portable Generators Due to Serious Fire and Burn Hazards2023-09-14 · Fire, CrashPortable generatorsAmerican Honda Recalls Portable Generators Due to Fire Hazard2023-08-03 · FirePortable generatorsCPSC Reannounces Recall of Generac Portable Generators; Additional Finger Amputation and Crushing Injury Reported; New Repair Kit Available2022-11-10 · AmputationPortable generatorsGenerac Recalls Portable Generators Due to Finger Amputation and Crushing Hazards2021-07-29 · AmputationPortable generatorsECHO EGi-2300 Watt Generators Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Manufactured by TTI (Recall Alert)2021-07-08 · FirePortable generatorsNorthern Tool & Equipment Recalls Powerhorse Portable Generators Due to Shock Hazard2021-02-24 · ShockPortable generatorsMWE Investments Recalls Westinghouse Portable Generators Due to Fire Hazard2020-09-16 · FirePortable generators

Questions

How many people are injured by portable generators each year?

About 4,834 people were treated in US emergency rooms for injuries involving portable generators in 2025, according to CPSC's NEISS estimates. The average over 2021–2025 was 4,111 a year.

What are the most common injuries from portable generators?

Anoxia is the most common diagnosis (31% of cases 2021–2025), and the all of body is the most often injured body part (33%).

How often do injuries from portable generators need hospital admission?

16.1% 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 606. 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

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