We use electricity every day. Electrical cables and cords fill our houses wall-to-wall. Electricity powers many of the items we use on a daily basis. Since electricity fuels our habits and routines, it is easy to take this power for granted. Yet, electricity poses many safety hazards and if not respected can lead to injury or death. Therefore, it is important to teach children about electrical safety.
Champion Home Services has organized this guide to help you teach your kids about electrical safety.
Why Electricity is Dangerous
Electrical currents seek the shortest path to the ground. If you are between an electrical source and the ground, the current will travel through your body. Since the human body is 70% water, it is a great conductor of electricity – this is not necessarily a good thing. Electric shocks can cause burns, organ damage, and even death.
Because so many of us use electricity daily, we don’t often think about how dangerous it is; we take for granted that an outlet will charge or power a device, and we move on. To keep children safe, it is important to teach them not to treat outlets and plugs like toys.
Read on for more tips to teach your children about electrical safety.
Overloaded Outlets
Teach your children not to plug more than two things into an outlet. Plugging more than two appliances into one outlet can cause it to overload. There may be more than one outlet on a circuit and plugging too many appliances in can cause an overload. Your circuit breaker should trip to cut power when there’s an overload. But if the wiring is bad or there are other outlets in the circuit, it can start a fire.
If you suspect your home has faulty wiring, schedule an electrical maintenance check.
Damaged Cords
Tucking electrical cords away is about more than tidying. Exposed cords can pose a trip hazard if they aren’t tucked away. Curious pets can mistake cords for chew toys and hurt themselves or ruin appliances. It is important for children to know not to pull or tug on cords to unplug a device. They should understand to pull from the plug to avoid damaging the cord, outlet or appliance.
Seek professional electrical repair for damaged appliances.
Don’t Mix Water and Electricity
As mentioned, water is a great conductor of electricity. Or rather, the ions present in water make it a good conductor. Using an electrical appliance near water is one of the most common causes of house fires.
Teach your children to keep devices and plugs away from sinks, tubs and faucets. Ensure your kids don’t plug or unplug appliances with wet hands. Additionally, if an appliance is close to a sink, make sure your kids know to turn off the faucet and dry the countertops first.
These tips can help ensure electrical safety and counter the fact that we are perfect conductors for electricity!
Practice Electrical Safety
Practicing electrical safety can keep your family safe from injury, house fires and death. Keep your children safe by teaching them the right way to plug and unplug appliances. Talk to them about keeping water and electricity separate!
Even if you have the best safety practices, your home’s wiring still needs inspection. Champion Home Services offers Whole Home Electrical Safety Inspections to ensure your home is up to code and safe. Contact us today!
