District to Replace Electric Sockets After Accident

An accident that left a Kennedy High School basketball player with a serious electrical burn has led Los Angeles school officials to begin removal, replacement or alteration of about 2,000 electrical sockets at schools districtwide.

The district wanted to make sure such accidents would not happen again, said Erik Nasarenko, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Unified School District. ‘When you’re dealing with children, you always have to go the extra mile,” he said.

The incident occurred two weeks ago when Manuel Ramilo, 18, of Van Nuys, leaned against a high-voltage socket in the wall of the school gym after basketball practice.

Coach Tim Guy, who said he saw the spark and a small burst of flame, rushed along with other players to Ramilo, who never lost consciousness.

The junior spent two nights in the hospital for observation. Two weeks later, Ramilo has an egg-size welt on his lower back and an attorney--although he said he was not yet sure if his family would be taking any legal action.