Infants, toddlers, and children are curious by nature. They like to explore new things, get to know their surroundings, and discover the unknown. Often, this means looking, touching, and feeling new things indoors and outdoors.
While this may be harmless when it involves seeing new animals for the first time, meeting new people, and discovering every room in a house or every corner of a backyard, it can mean “danger” when it involves lamp cords, space heaters, electrical outlets, water and electricity in the bathroom.
As a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, babysitter, or legal guardian, it’s critical that you teach all children in your care to mind these electrical safety tips:
- Never put your fingers in an electrical outlet
- Never stick objects in an electrical outlet
- Do not stick metal objects like silverware or scissors in toasters
- Do not pull plugs out by their cords
- Stay away from powerlines
- If a powerline is down, do not get near it
- Never climb a tree that is near a power line
- Never touch a tree that is near a power line
- Do NOT touch a large metal transformer box with a warning sign
- When you see a warning sign, don’t ignore it – obey it!
As an adult, there’s a lot that you can do to help protect children from electrical hazards in your home. Whether you have children living with you or children who visit, you can do a lot to make your home safe and prevent electrical accidents. Our advice is to invest in safety outlets that prevent children from sticking foreign objects in them. You can also block outlets by placing furniture in front of them.
If you’re using an extension cord temporarily, you can hide it behind furniture or invest in a “hide-a-cord device.” You can also cover the unused holes on the cords with electrical tape. We also recommend storing small electrical devices out of reach and placing bathroom and kitchen appliances out of reach of curious little hands.