Electrical safety should be practiced 24-7 year-round Metal and sockets don’t mix For adults, it is obvious biting down on an electric cord would be a dangerous action, but young children often explore the world by placing objects in their mouth. According to a healthychildren. org story, electric shock with young children, especially toddlers, most often occurs when they bite into electrical cords or poke metal objects into unprotected sockets or appliances.
Although May is Electrical Safety Month, safe practices around the home should be a year-long exercise. The distribution and use of electricity throughout the nation has become increasingly safer, but there are always inherent risks around a power source, especially for young children exploring the world around them. Education is the key, both early and often. Repetitive messaging is more likely to remain with a child.
Another common danger around the home is frayed electrical cords. Any cord without proper insulation should be discarded and replaced.
Consider how often a child is told not to climb on an object or they might get hurt. Two days after the previous warning, they’re back on the same object and fall. Same could be said for the age-old warning: “Don’t touch that, it’s hot.” One simple act parents can take to help prevent injury is to obtain self-closing outlet covers to lessen a child’s curiosity about the “holes.” It’s an affordable safety measure, running anywhere from about $1-2 each. Five safety lessons can help shield youths from potential hazards.
Don’t overload sockets With all the electronic devices requiring power, remember the number of sockets per outlet is done by design and attaching more than one device per socket can cause sparks and start a fire. Do not allow children to overload a socket. If more are needed, use a multiple-socket surge protector. Water and electricity … a deadly combination Anything plugged into a socket should not be next to water. This includes everyday items such as hair dryers, radios, phones, and game chargers. Children should even be told not to touch electrical switches when they are wet. Water and electricity don’t mix. Power lines Kids see a strong, sturdy tree and they may be inclined to climb. They need to be taught to always look up. Stay away from trees near power lines. In addition, if a child wants to fly a kite, tell them to find open fields without power lines overhead. It’s good for their own protection. Members in Golden Shores experienced an outage in 2019 caused by a kite in power lines. Obey warning signs Electrical boxes and substations are posted with warning signs for a reason. Those metal, fiberglass, and relatively small plastic green boxes seen in neighborhoods provide power to the community. They are closed, locked, and labeled with warning signs for a reason. Substations are fenced with warning signs and should not be approached or entered. Teach children to respect these signs and that the signs, locks, and fences exist for their own protection.
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