5 Ways To Ensure Your Children’s Safety Around Electricity

It’s an unfortunate coincidence that electricity and children don’t always mix. Electricity is an essential part of our daily lives, but it can also pose serious risks to our safety – especially for children. As curious and adventurous as they are, kids may unknowingly put themselves in danger when it comes to electrical hazards.
From electrical shocks to burns and even death, the consequences of improper handling of electricity can be severe. After all, it doesn’t take much more than a minute for something to go wrong.

But there are ways you can ensure your little ones stay safe when they’re around electricity. Today, we’ll look at the practical steps you can take to protect them from electrical hazards.

From inspecting your home for potential dangers to enlisting the help of experts, these tips will give you peace of mind that your kids are kept away from harm. So read on, and let’s get started on keeping those kiddos out of harm’s way!

1. Understanding Electricity Hazards

Understanding potential hazards posed by electricity is crucial, and it’s important to remember that even a seemingly harmless outlet can be dangerous.

Thankfully, there are some basic steps parents can take to ensure their children’s safety around electricity:

• For starters, it’s important to properly cover any exposed power outlets with childproof covers and check them often for wear and tear. 
• Keep all cords out of reach of little hands and make sure no objects, such as toys or furniture, can easily come into contact with electrical outlets.
• It’s also essential to teach your kids about electricity so they understand why certain rules are in place and how serious these risks can be. Explain that power outlets should never be touched or played with.

Electricians need to handle an electrical issues:

Never hesitate to call a licensed electrician right away if you ever experience an electrical situation with power points or appliances.
This includes things like sparking, smell of smoke or burning, appliances or power points overly hot. An electrician will advise you on the best course of action.

2. Inspecting for Dangers

Regularly inspect your home for electrical hazards to keep your family safe!

Electrical wiring, outlet covers, and electrical cords should be checked often. Start by looking at the walls and floors around outlets and switches. Make sure all wiring is not exposed and that the outlet plates are properly secured on the wall. Also, look for any frayed or cracked insulation on the wiring, as this can create a shock hazard.

Examine all of the outlet covers
Examine all of the outlets covers in your home to ensure they are securely attached to each wall plate and there are no gaps between them. Properly installed outlet covers will prevent small items from being inserted into an open socket causing electric shock or a fire hazard.
Use plastic protection plugs so that nothing is put into the power point by a child.

Replace damaged electrical cords
Make sure that none of your electrical cords have been damaged due to age or wear-and-tear. If you notice any exposed wires or fraying near plugs, it’s important to replace the cord immediately with one that has proper insulation in order to avoid shocks or sparks from occurring.

Check extension cords
Check any extension cords you may be using around your house as well as outdoor power sources such as pools and outdoor lighting systems. Never substitute extension cords for permanent wiring; they should also not be tied together in order to increase their length since this can cause overheating, which is dangerous when electricity is involved! 

By inspecting your home regularly (better if inspected by a skilled electrician) for these potential hazards, you can help protect yourself and family from accidental injury caused by electricity – so don’t forget to take time out of each month (or year) for some basic safety checks! If you need a professional inspection with a licensed electrician in Derrimut or an emergency electrician Altona Meadows, Call us on 0432 376 469

3. Electrical Safety Measures

Take proactive steps to guarantee the safety of your kids when it comes to electricity – it’s worth the effort! 

Regular electrical maintenance
It’s important to do regular electrical maintenance, as well as keep all wiring safe and up-to-date. This means having a qualified electrician check outlets and power sources regularly, so you can be sure they’re in good condition.

Plastic insulation in good condition
Make sure any exposed wires are covered with plastic insulation or some other form of protection. Another way to keep your kiddos safe from electricity is by ensuring all appliances are properly grounded.

Educate your children
Educate them about the dangers of electricity and how to stay away from anything that could put them at risk. Finally, teach your children what to do if they witness an electrical hazard – call 000 immediately if someone is being shocked or there is smoke coming from an outlet!

4. Childproofing Home

Make sure to childproof your home so you and your little ones can feel secure when it comes to electricity. Our biggest tip is to get down to child level and look around your home when lying on the ground. You will see cords and wiring at a child’s height and identify what they will see or be curious about.

Childproof covers on outlets
You should also make sure to cover all of the outlets in your house with outlet covers or safety caps. This way, if a curious child tries to stick something into an outlet, they won’t be able to reach the exposed wiring.

Keep your distance while playing
Remind them not to play with anything connected to a socket, even if it’s turned off and explain why they need permission before touching anything related to electricity at home or elsewhere.
More children are using ipads and phones that may need charging.
Do not let a child plugin chargers themselves.

Do not let kids play around TV’s, those big flat screen TV’s can pack a punch if they are damaged by a playtime accident. They can also fall and crush a child if the child is trying to move it or climb onto the TV unit. You may want to consider getting a TV tether strap or safety strap which holds them in place

Try not to let kids handle anything that has to do with electricity.
Helping out with seemingly simple tasks like helping you to replace a light bulb or plugging in or unplugging appliances can lead to a child trying this themselves without your supervision.

Keep them away From appliances
Keep appliances out of reach such as toasters or hairdryers.
These two appliances are the most common causes of electric shocks.
Toasters are notorious for getting stuck and kit is all too easy for a child to try and make their own toast.
Hairdryers in the bathroom – water and electricity are life threatening. Children should not be touching hair dryers. They may have wet hands or be standing on a wet floor.
Hair driers and hair styling tools must be kept out of children’s reach.

5. Professional Electrical Audit

It’s a clever move to have a professional inspect your home’s electrical system, so you can rest assured that it’s safe for the whole family. Hiring an experienced electrical contractor is the best way to ensure that all safety regulations are followed, and any potential problems are identified before they become a hazard.

Invest in safety devices 
Update your switchboard with safety switches or RCD’s. It may be worth your while having an electrician come and look at your switchboard and make sure it is up to date with the current guidelines. This also can include getting smoke alarms fitted or tested at the same time.

Having your home professionally inspected offers many benefits, such as:

• Cost Savings: Having a professional review your wiring can save you some dollars by assisting in the early detection of problems that could lead to expensive repairs or replacements.
• Efficiency: Professionals will be able to identify ways in which you can improve energy efficiency and lower energy bills.
• Comprehensive approach: Professional services provide a comprehensive approach to making sure your children stay safe around electricity. They can inspect existing wiring, advise on changes and improvements, install new systems or devices if needed, and help troubleshoot problems that may arise.
• Australian building codes: Professional contractors also understand local building codes and regulations of Australia, so you know any work done meets those standards as well.

The final words

In today’s world, electricity has become an indispensable component of everyday life, but it’s important that we handle it with care and follow basic safety protocols at all times in our homes. By staying aware of potential electrical hazards and taking preventive measures, avoiding overloading circuits with too many appliances at once and calling an electrician for regular inspections – with a little bit effort, you can establish an environment that is both enjoyable and safe for your children.
Do you have pets? We also have a pet electrical safety article here

Electrx is ready to keep your little ones safe!

Don’t be afraid to get professional electrical services from Electrx if needed. We will provide you with a clear understanding of the necessary measures to childproof your home against potential electrical hazards.