7 Ways to Ensure Electrical Safety for Kids At Home
It is greatly disheartening to know that more than 4000 infants die every year due to freak accidents that take place at home. There are many instances of the death being reported in an unusual manner. The main reasons that contribute to this problem are the lack of proper home safety features.
To make your home electrical safe for your family, especially kids, then hire the best electrician like Brookvale electrician and install electrical safety gadgets. Here are a few basic ideas to help baby proof your home.
- Install GFCI near Water
GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters. Always install ground fault circuit interrupters at all electrical plugs within ten feet of any water source. A ground fault circuit interrupter will detect stray current and interrupt the circuit to prevent electrocution.
In comparison, a circuit breaker takes longer to detect stray current. Installing ground fault circuit interrupters is important because they save lives! To install GFCI, take help of professionals like level 2 electricians in Brookvale.
- Cover Electrical Plugs
When our grandchildren were babies and toddlers, electrical outlet protection consisted of various types of plastic plugs. These had prongs which pushed into an outlet just as any electrical cord does. They filled the outlet holes, thus preventing a child from inserting a paperclip or some other conductive material into the outlet. The downside here is that kids quickly learned to pull these plastic plugins out of the socket.
Modern technology has once again met the challenge. You can now buy plastic electric outlet covers that either slide to the side when you want to plug in a lamp, or they snap shut automatically when you disconnect a cord. Either way, faceplates or outlets are revealed only when it is time for an adult to use them. Plus, the spring-loaded covers are strong enough to prevent a toddler from opening them.
- Cover for CPU & Surge Protector
In today’s electronic age, no home is free of electrical strips, surge protectors, or computers. Both the strips and the computer’s central processing unit rest on the floor, placing both within easy reach of a young child. This potentially exposes kids to electrocution hazards.
Manufacturers have produced covers for both the surge protectors and the central processing unit. Even though light switches are a little harder to reach, they should also be protected by plastic switch covers. Don’t underestimate a toddler’s curiosity or determination.
- Invest In Chord Shorteners
To reduce the potential for children to asphyxiate themselves, apply cord shorteners to all lamp and computer cords that have more length than needed. To reduce the potential for a baby or toddler to accidentally bite (they put everything into their mouths) into a live wire, apply wire guards or covers to the wire and secure it to the baseboards in your home.
All of these safety devices can save the life of your baby or toddler. For a few dollars, you can substantially reduce the electrical hazard exposure to your child. All can be ordered online or found in many local hardware stores. They are a fast and low-cost step to babyproofing your home.
- Invest In Chord Insulation
The extension cords that are present in various parts of the house might become dangerous since there are chances that toddlers or infants will come in contact with them. Thus, the supreme quality insulation for cords that are available in the market will be of great use in providing an excellent feature.
It is available in various shapes such that they can be fixed in the best possible manner. Thus these products will be of great use in acquiring an amazing level of functionality. For insulating electrical cords at home, you should take help of skilled electrician like electricians of Brookvale NSW.
- Never Place Electrical products Inside Bathroom
You should never place electrical products inside your bathroom. The size of your bathroom is not a big concern but you should always keep an electric socket away from the water source. Never mix electricity and a bathroom; it can be highly dangerous.
Blow drying and shaving with electric shaver can be done outside. It is important to cover the electrical sockets that were previously installed efficiently. If any electrical socket inside bathroom is producing spark then immediately call Brookvale emergency electrician.
- Educate Your Kids
Teach your kids not to play with appliances inside your home. You need to be firm and consistent with your stand. As much as possible, keep your kids away from appliances that are complicated to operate. And be sure always to have your young kids supervised by an adult if they are going to use any electrical appliance in your home.
Final Words
Little is more important when childproofing a home than proper electrical safety. Electricity is something we use every day. Sometimes we forget that even though its use is second nature to us, we still have to use it safely to protect our children and ourselves.
It is really important to the use of home safety gadgets that will provide a safe and secure atmosphere for infants and toddlers. Various kinds of features that are essential to be considered inside the home are listed above in a wonderful manner.