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Electrical Safety

In case of an emergency, you may need to know where the electrical panel is and how to cut the power to the house. Many Mums, at home all day, do not know anything about circuit breakers or main switches. When you have your children babysat take a moment to explain the location to the babysitter.

Keep electrical cords as short as possible

Coil cords and/or place behind furniture. Taping, stapling or tacking them to walls can create another hazard to children who may try to pull at the cord and pop out the staples or tacks. Once the tape dries and starts to lift, little fingers might be able to pull of a piece, which could cause choking.

  • Hiding cords under carpets in traffic areas can cause wires to break and become a fire hazard.
  • Choose night lights which look functional and less toy-like. The cuter they are, the more children might be attracted to the outlets. Start making it a habit, to take the night light out of the socket each morning.
  • Take special care with television plugs. They can carry a charge for months after they have been unplugged.
  • Protect little hands and prevent costly repairs to your audiovisual equipment by locking them out of reach.
  • When small appliances such as frying pans are unplugged, remove the cord from the outlet end first to prevent burns to your child should she grab the other end.
  • Take special care with television plugs. They can carry a charge for months after they have been unplugged.
  • Store small appliances and their cords out of reach. Keep kettles, toaster ovens and other hot appliances and their cords, as far back from the edge of the counter as possible.
  • Extension cords and even phone cords pose a danger of electrocution or strangulation. Discourage your child from teething on or playing with cords.
  • Ironing is best done at child's sleep time.
  • Electrical outlets, because they are at a child's level, draw their interest. Toddlers instinctively want to poke objects into them, including their wet fingers.
  • Safety caps, which fit into individual sockets, are less expensive than covers but have to be replaced each time you want to use the outlet. They require your constant vigilance to make sure you put them back. Many children are able to pull the caps out, much to the amazement of their parents who themselves find it difficult to do. Freed caps can be a choking hazard.
  • At a minimum use these caps but do be aware of their weaknesses.