A four-year-old child has died after reportedly suffering a fatal electric shock from a clothes dryer while playing inside a home in Savonburg, Kansas. The incident occurred on Thursday evening.
Deputies from the Allen County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call shortly after 9:30 p.m. on August 6, reporting a child who was not breathing. The child's parents were already transporting their unconscious child to Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute when authorities arrived. The child was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Office stated that it is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, which involved a 220-volt dryer. Officials do not believe the child was deliberately harmed. "No foul play is suspected at this time, and it appears to have been a tragic accident," the department said in a statement.
The identity of the child has not been released, and details regarding how the dryer delivered the fatal shock remain unclear. The sheriff's office extended condolences to the family and all those affected by the death.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers safety recommendations for households with young children, including the use of properly installed outlet covers and tamper-resistant receptacles. Federal guidelines also advise parents to use child-protective devices designed to prevent access to electrical components.