Electricity is such a common part of our lives, we often don’t give it much thought. But when children are in the home, there has to be an emphasis on safety in every area. There are several categories of home electrical safety tips, ranging from what adults need to know to how to teach your children how to be safe.
The advent of GFI outlets and power surge protectors has greatly reduced the dangers of electricity in the home, but we do still see thousands of children burned annually due to mishaps involving electricity. Here are some quick and easy tips which should put you mind at ease.
Electrical Safety Tips for Adults – Keep the Kids Safe
- Use plastic outlet covers which are tight and hard to remove. Although you may get a bit frustrated having to pry them off, you can rest assured your children and grandchildren won’t be able to. If you are not using an outlet at all, consider replacing the outlet cover with a solid plate.
- Never leave items plugged in which can be easily accessed by the children. For instance, after using a blow dryer, unplug it and put it away in a drawer instead of leaving it on the sink or vanity where children can get it wet or yank the cord from the wall.
- Plug in lamps, TV’s and the like in outlets which are hidden from view and prying fingers whenever possible. Keep wires and cords tucked away and out of any proximity of the child being able to trip on them.
- Ensure that no power wires are leaning on tress which your kids may climb and come in contact with a live wire. If there are power wires around your property, be especially cautious when the kids are operating a drone or kite. As a matter of fact, it is best to not allow kids to fly these toys without your supervision.
- Dry kids off completely after playing in the pool or taking a bath. They may not understand not to touch an outlet when wet – and for some reason, kids love touching outlets! Keep electrical appliances- such as radios or blenders – away from kids who have been swimming and may touch them while wet.
- Be sure not to overload any circuits, especially in a room where a kid may be tempted to play around with all those wires.
Teach Them Electrical Safety
- These days, there are computer games and videos appropriate for the youngest toddler to watch, and just like learning their ABC’s, they can learn never to touch an outlet or appliance without Mom or Dad.
- Take kids around the home and show them danger spots – from outdoor electrical wires and substations, to indoor fuse boxes and outlets.
- When kids are old enough, have a family meeting to discuss all aspects of safety around the home, including electrical safety tips.
- When stringing holiday lights, be sure to use as much caution as you do indoors. Remember that the wires and outlets may become wet due to weather, and kids may not understand the danger.
- Don’t allow the kids to have drinks around gaming consoles or computers. Let them know that not only can they short the game out, but that they can suffer burns.
- If you live around any electrified fences, take your kids to show them the warning signs and let them know to never climb this type of fence, even to retrieve a lost toy.
Overall, by taking a few precautions and setting up some good habits, you should be able to keep your kids safe around electricity. For an assessment of your home’s electrical status and safety, give the team at Promise Electric a call. After all, we are family people too.
