Electricity Safety Tips For Parents And Children

By Author: Dave Sabri
Total Articles: 29
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If you have children, then you will be acutely aware of the dangers posed to their health and safety by the electrical appliances, outlets, and wiring in your home. However, by following a few simple steps, you can make your children a lot safer from the risk of electrocution, fire, burns, and electric shocks:

Cover up any exposed sockets with face plates, and if there are any that are frequently used, attach sliding plates rather than fixed ones so that you do not have to keep plugging and unplugging the safety plate.

Be sure to instruct your children as to the hazards posed by electricity as soon as you can. In particular, stress that they should never put anything in the holes of an electrical socket, or touch anything that has a plug attached to it. A system of visual cues, such as warning signs, can help them to understand which items are off limits.

Secure any electrical boxes in your house by locking them in a cupboard and putting the keys somewhere only you can reach.

Do not let your children play with kites or climb trees near electricity towers or power lines.

Once your children are ...
... old enough, teach them the correct way to plug and unplug cables in safety, remembering to place an emphasis on handling the plastic part of the plug only when plugging or unplugging.

Do not have any cables running across the floor, and use cable ties to keep them tied up behind pieces of furniture and out of the range of inquisitive young fingers.

Replace any worn, frayed or damaged cables and plugs as soon as you notice them.

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.

Place space heaters against the wall, and keep the cables out of the way so that they cannot be tripped on or pulled out.

Any lighting in your childs bedroom, including night lights, should be kept away from any curtains or bedding in order to reduce the risk of fire.

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 appliances are not being used, unplug them and put them away wherever possible.

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