Electrical Safety Tips for Children

Domestic

If you have children or are planning to, electrical safety is paramount. it’s important to make sure that your home electrical system is able to protect them from accidents. We’re all used to living with electricity on demand and having a myriad of electrical appliances. We are so familiar with it as adults that it something we seldom think about until there’s a power blackout. All of this changes when you have children, especially curious toddlers. Whereas you wouldn’t dream of sticking your finger into a power socket, a young child doesn’t have the context to know not to do this. You have to start seeing your home electrical supply through their eyes, and ensure that your home is childproof when it comes to electrical safety.

Educate your children about electrical safety

The obvious thing to do is to educate your children about the dangers of electricity as soon as they’re capable of understanding and remembering simple concepts. Talk to them about electrical safety in general, and show them what you mean. Teach them how to tell if a power socket is on or off, for example. Show them how to safely plug in and unplug appliances, and make it clear where and what they can and can’t touch. Also point out the dangers of things like exposed wires or messing around with table lamps and such. You can harness their natural curiosity to keep them interested. Of course, you can only do this once your child has reached the right developmental age. Until such time, there are safety measures you can take in your home to help prevent incidents.

Childproof electrical outlets

Most power sockets tend to be located a foot or so above the floor – which is the perfect height for an inquisitive crawling child. It’s all too easy for them to reach. A very simple way of protecting young children from electrical accidents is to install tamper-resistant electrical outlets. These power points prevent children from sticking their fingers or other items into electrical sockets. They work by using internal shutters to block access, which can only be opened when an actual plug is inserted. There are also other easy and affordable options. You can insert dormant safety plugs or put sliding covers over the entire outlet.

Protect power strips

Power strips are also usually within easy reach of a young child, typically on the floor. This makes them one of the biggest risks to electrical safety, not only because they have open power sockets. They can also overheat if too many items are plugged in. This is an electrical hazard in itself, so you should avoid doing it in any case. However, even a low level of heat can hurt your child. You can buy inexpensive power strip covers to block the whole strip from prying little fingers. And if your sockets are overheating, it’s a good idea to have a professional electrician conduct a safety check . Overloaded power strips can cause electrical shocks, short circuits and even fires.

Control electrical cords

Another one of the essential electrical safety tips for children is to keep all power cords out of their reach. If the plastic insulated coating is worn in any way, touching the cord can cause an electrical shock. That’s not the only risk. A young child can get hurt by tripping over an electrical cord or pulling on one. In the worst case they might even chew on it. Make sure that you house doesn’t have any exposed cords that your child can reach. If you’re using extension cords for a power strip, tuck the cords under a rug or attach them with adhesive strips where the wall meets the floor.

Manage small electrical appliances

With the hectic lifestyle of working and raising young children, it can be all too easy to forget to put away all the electrical devices that you use daily. Get into the habit of placing things like home entertainment components out of reach, for instance, and make sure all cords are securely tucked away.

Stabilise heavier appliances

Obviously you can’t move or store larger home appliances like TVs every day. Make sure that they’re stable, so that children can’t accidentally knock them over and hurt themselves. As a rule of thumb, the heavier the item, the closer you should place it to the floor. As with smaller devices, make sure that there aren’t any exposed cords that a child could tug on and pull something off its platform. It’s a good idea to do a walkthrough of your home, checking that every appliance is childproofed in this way.

Consider a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a fast-acting circuit breaker that shuts off the house electrical supply within milliseconds in the event of a ground fault. If something that conducts electricity isn’t earthed properly, the electricity will flow through the body of anyone touching it. The same thing happens if electricity comes into contact with water – anyone who touches the water will be electrocuted. By instantly shutting off the electricity supply when it detects an anomaly in the electricity flow, a GFCI helps prevent a major shock if someone touches an ungrounded appliance, for example. It works by measuring the amount of current flowing into and returning from a piece of equipment. If the two amounts differ, it indicates some kind of interference, triggering the circuit shutdown for electrical safety. You can have them installed in areas of your home where water and electricity co-exist, like the bathroom and kitchen.

Professional Melbourne electricians for home electrical safety

Regular inspections are a further part of electrical safety, and of ensuring your system is childproof. You can visually inspect for things like frayed wires and overheating power points yourself. For non-visible components, it’s a good idea to have a professional electrician check your circuitry for any potential hazards or faults too. Contact STL Electrical to schedule a full inspection, and enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that your home’s electrical system doesn’t pose any risks to your children.

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