As a kid who was naturally inquisitive, I've been zapped once or twice by faulty
electrical cables. Lucky for me, I grew up in a time where there weren’t a lot
of appliances in the house. But nowadays, as technology becomes a huge part of
our lives, kids are also introduced at very young ages how to use gadgets and
mobile devices and they get so used to having electricity near them. It is important
that we not only teach them how to use these technologies, but also how to be
safe, especially with gadgets that have to be plugged in.
Here are some safety instructions that you can pass on to
your kids to ensure electrical safety in the home:
- Advice very small children to stay away from electrical outlets and cords, especially the ones that are on the floor. Tell them the reasons why. Proper communication with very young kids will promote better compliance. Make them understand that electricity can be dangerous and aren't meant for small children to handle.
- Teach older kids the proper way to plug electrical cords and how to unplug it. It can be very tempting for kids to just yank on the cord when unplugging. Explain to them that this can damage the plug or the socket.
- Always turn off an electronic item before unplugging. Prematurely cutting the power can damage the machine.
- Do not overload extension cord since this can result to overheating and might cause a fire in the house.
- Highlight the importance of never sticking anything into the holes of sockets, be it their fingers or a pin. If you can, put outlet caps on unused outlets to remove this temptation.
- Inform them that water and electricity when mixed together is highly dangerous and will result in an accident. They should not handle appliances and electronics when wet or when near a tub of water or in the shower. Drinks should be placed at a safe distance from electronics. Also when there’s a thunderstorm, do not get in the pool or swim in the beach because you might get electrocuted by lightning since lightning is attracted to water.
- When playing outside like climbing a tree or flying kites or remote controlled toy plane, watch out for power lines and stay away. Explain to children that power lines carry electricity into the houses.
- Keep lit candles away from electronics.
- Keep the wires of appliances away from the stove to prevent causing a fire in the home.
- Regularly have electricity companies check your wirings inside or around the house or underground to make sure that your family is safe. Tell kids to immediately report if they see cables from power lines that are broken or not in its place.
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