We’ve grown up being so used to having electricity as a part of our everyday lives that we’ve almost forgotten how dangerous can it be.
Every year, hundreds of people are severely injured or even killed by electricity, and thus we must be cautious when dealing with electrical problems, no matter how small. Also, all electrical problems should be dealt with as soon as they are encountered.
For parents with younger kids, electrical safety is of paramount importance. Kids tend to be curious about everything, and they are unaware of the dangers that electricity poses and what can be done to remain safe.
Here are 7 ways that will help you keep your kids safe when around electricity:
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Cover electrical outlets
Kids can hardly resist electrical outlets, and hence, to avoid tragedies of electric shocks, you must keep the outlets covered with electrical outlet covers. These covers can be plugged in just like a normal plug, are easy and useful, and cheap to buy. While you’ll be able to remove them easily when you need to use the socket, they are designed to be close-fitting so that little hands cannot pull them out.
Make it difficult to pull out cords.
You do not want your child to pull out electrical cords, exposing the socket to them. Moreover, pulling out the cord may expose them to a risk of electrical shocks if switched on. You must hence reorganize your furniture such that the outlets are so placed that your child cannot reach them to pull out cords. You could also employ the use of cord hiding devices.
Store appliances out of reach
The smaller and portable devices like electronic shavers, grinders, or irons must be hidden away unless you need to use them. Not only will your child be safe from electrical injuries, but such appliances may also cause injuries due to hot surfaces or sharp parts, which can be avoided if appliances remain out of reach.
Keep appliances stable
You possibly cannot have your television or refrigerator stored out of reach. Hence it is imperative to make sure that they are stable, and pulling on them wouldn’t cause your child to get knocked down.
Be aware of trailing cords.
Leave alone, children; trailing cords in your home may even cause you to trip over and hurt yourself. Also, tripping over may pull the cord too hard, resulting in a short circuit or sparking. Thus, the trailing cord must be secured with a tie or duct tape or be hidden under the carpets to avoid accidents.
Be aware of potential danger.
Electrical hazards can be potentially dangerous and even life-taking. You should thus keep an eye for:
- Sockets that do not work properly
- Flickering lights
- Sockets that create a buzzing sound when you plug in something
- Damaged power cords
- Burning smells or sparks from a socket
- Plugs that do not fit snugly into the socket.
If you encounter any such issues, you could call a local electrician to be safe now than be sorry later.
Educate your kids
As soon as your kids grow to a stage of understanding, try to explain the hazards of electricity. Tell them that they must never touch sockets, teach them how devices need to be plugged, and ask them to ask for help when dealing with electronics.
Safety with appliances, cords, and sockets is essential, no matter how expensive or good quality fittings you have used. However, it is equally important to use high-quality and certified electrical fittings to avoid undue everyday accidents with electricity.
