Electricity. What would we do without it? In this day and age, we consider electricity to be an absolutely essential part of our daily routine and we would feel lost without the ability to plug in our appliances or light up our home. However, the mechanisms and power that go into our electrical systems are very complicated and can be extremely dangerous to those of all ages, especially kids. That’s why it is important to practice safe habits with your electricity and to teach children to be cautious around outlets and electrical equipment, all in simple, practical ways. If you have kids in your home, here are some tips on how to keep them safe from dangerous electrical mishaps.
Outlet Safety
Kids are curious and love to explore! Just make sure they aren’t doing so around your electrical outlets. Do some research to determine what is best for your family, and install some electrician approved childproof outlets to ensure that no small fingers or other objects find their way into those holes. Also, try not to overload an outlet or extension cord. Check on your kids and the outlets when they are charging their devices to make sure an outlet isn’t being overloaded.
Cord Safety
Along with outlets, cords themselves can be dangerous and need to be kept safe before plugging them into the wall. One of the most important things to remember is to always keep liquids away from cords. Never let a child who is snacking with a juice box or a glass of milk near a cord or an electrical outlet. If a spill occurs, be sure to not plug in an electronic that may have been damaged by water or another liquid. Also, teach your children to never yank an electrical cord from the wall, instead, to remove a plug by slowly and safely pulling it out.
Outdoor Safety
Electrical safety doesn’t end when the kids go outside to play! When they head out, make sure you warn your children to steer clear of playing near electrical boxes. These boxes indicate that there are electrical wires buried in the ground underneath, so that area can be extremely dangerous. Also, remind them to keep watch for power lines, and not to climb trees or fly kites or drones near them, as they can get zapped or cause a power outage.
The electricity in your home can be extremely hazardous for children, but there are steps you can take to keep them safe! If you have any questions, want to learn more about electrical safety, or have a problem with the system in your home, call Miller’s Services at (804) 578-4314 and one of our highly trained electricians will be happy to help!Â