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Electricity safety tips for parents and children
See More articles From davesabri@googlemail.com
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It is a well known fact that children and electricity do not mix, as their natural curiosity, combined with a lack of awareness of the dangers of electricity, can be a deadly combination. However, if you take the necessary precautions, you can greatly reduce the risk to your child - and the rest of your family - that is posed by electricity. Here are a few pointers:
The fingers of a child can be small enough to fit into the holes in electrical outlets, so use your common sense and cover up any exposed electrical sockets with outlet protector plates, available from most DIY and hardware stores. The sliding type are the best kind to use on frequently used sockets, as it means you do not have to hunt for and plug in the plate every time you take something out.
Educate your children about the dangers posed by electricity. Discourage them from putting objects such as their fingers or crayons into outlets, and from touching anything that has a cable attached. If they are very young, then you might want to put signs near any objects or outlets that could be dangerous that give a clear visual signal to them not to touch it.
Lock any wire or electrical boxes in your home, and put the keys in a location only you have access to.
Keep your children away from power lines and service towers wherever possible, especially if they are climbing trees or flying kites.
Teach your kids about the correct way to handle plugs and cables when they are old enough, making sure they know to handle them by the plastic body of the plug only, and never to plug something in when an outlet is switched on.
Keep cables tied up and out of the way so that they cannot be tripped up on or pulled.
If you notice any damaged, worn, or frayed cables or plugs, replace them immediately.
When your children are in their teens, you will need to teach them how to change a lightbulb. Be sure to stress the need for the light to have cooled down and the power to be off before replacing any bulb.
If you have a space heater, keep the cables out of the way and place it up against the wall so that the cables cannot be pulled or tripped over.
Keep any lights in the bedrooms of your children as far from any material, such as curtains, clothes, and bed sheets, as possible.
Make sure that your children know that water and electricity do not mix well from an early age, making sure that they know to dry their hands before touching any appliance, and that they should not use mains-powered devices in the bathroom.
When you are finished using an appliance, unplug it and tidy it away immediately, especially if it is a hot appliance such as a hair dryer or clothes iron.
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