Whether you are expecting a baby or already have one who will soon be on the move, you need to take steps to protect your child from household electrical hazards. While all babies and small children should be supervised at all times, electrical accidents can happen in the blink of an eye.
Learn four tips for protecting your child from household electrical hazards.
1. Install Tamper-Resistant Outlets
Every year, an average of 2,400 children are severely shocked or burned when they stick household items into electrical outlets. While many types of babyproof outlet covers are on the market today, none are foolproof and some, such as outlet plugs, can be easily removed by determined children.
The best way to protect your child from injury when sticking an item into an electrical outlet is to replace all of your outlets with tamper-resistant receptacles (TRRs). These outlets resemble traditional outlets, but they have spring-loaded receptacle cover plates that cover the outlet slots when no electrical devices are in them.
These cover plates move to reveal the outlet slots when an electrical device plug needs to go in. However, if a child attempts to stick a household item, such as a screwdriver, into just one outlet slot, the cover plates will not move and will instead continue to cover the electrical slots to prevent insertion.
These outlets are very inexpensive, and some also have GFCI technology.
2. Hide all Electrical Cords
Electrical cords are also child safety hazards, especially when they are plugged in. Babies and young children can suffer electrical shock if they chew on these cords. In addition, children of all ages can pull on these cords, trip on them, and pull the electronic devices they are attached to onto the ground or, even worse, onto them.
For these reasons, hide all electrical cords from small children. While you can tape electrical cords to walls or floorboards, this solution can be unsightly. Instead, purchase a few PVC cord hiders from a local hardware or home improvement store and tuck cords into these cord covers. Then, secure them to your home walls with built-in adhesive strips to both hide cords and keep them out of reach of your child.
Contrary to what you may have heard, you should not hide cords underneath home carpets and rugs, because this can create a home fire hazard.
3. Unplug and Hide Phone Chargers When Not in Use
Many adults and teenagers not used to having young children in the home become used to leaving their cell phone and other electronic device chargers plugged into the walls when not in use. This is a habit your entire family should break when a baby or small child lives in your home.
Children can and have been electrocuted after placing the charging tips of plugged-in cell phone chargers in their mouths. A plugged-in cell phone charger tip can also electrocute a child if they place a metal object on or inside of it.
4. Add Childproof Covers to Power Strips
Power strips can be just as hazardous to babies and young children as unprotected wall electrical outlets. However, currently, no tamper-resistant power strips are on the market. If you find that you have to use power strips throughout your home to plug in all of the electrical devices your family needs, then consider having a licensed electrician install more electrical outlets in your home.
If you are not ready to add additional outlets to your home or only use a power strip on an occasional basis, then shield it with a childproof power strip cover. These devices cover outlets not in use to keep your child from inserting objects in them and cover plugs inserted into the power strip to keep your child from unplugging them.
Follow these four tips to protect your baby or small child from the most common electrical hazards in your home. Contact the licensed electricians at
Presley & Son Electric Service
for all of your household electrical needs today.
