It goes without saying that we all need to exercise some caution when it comes to electronic devices. Your children may not understand this instinctively, and it’s therefore essential to educate them about electrical safety.
These simple but effective methods will keep your children safe from potential electricity-related dangers and give you greater peace of mind.
Here are 4 things every parent should teach their children about electrical safety.
Bath time is not iPad time
Simply put, water and electricity don’t mix. For adults, this is easy to understand, but for young children, this isn’t always the case.
For this reason, children must be taught that electronic devices such as computers, tablets and cell phones should be left outside the bathroom and reserved for dry hands.
Along the same lines, it’s important to teach your children to use electronic devices with dry hands. Not only can water damage ports and outlets, it can pose a significant hazard.
Move electrical cords out of the way
When your children are not using their chargers and cables, it is important that they understand the importance of storing them.
Make sure the cables are located where they are not likely to be walked on or sat on and receive unnecessary wear and tear, to prevent electrical wires from being exposed.
If your children notice that a cable is worn, it is important that they tell a responsible adult. Exposed wires can cause shocks and electrical fires if not repaired.
Power outlets are reserved for connections
Although these mysterious holes at the bottom of our walls can be intriguing, especially to children, make sure your children know not to put fingers, toys, pencils or any other objects into your electrical outlets.
If your children are very young, you can also purchase outlet covers that cover the holes and prevent children from accidentally getting shocked.
When you change a light bulb…
When children begin to gain independence and learn to do things on their own, they sometimes take too much initiative and end up putting themselves in danger.
It’s important to create an environment where children feel comfortable coming for help if they have a burnt out light bulb or other electrical problem.
If your children are old enough to handle some electrical tasks themselves, it’s essential to teach them the importance of turning off lights and appliances before attempting to remove and replace light bulbs.
Turning off the light (even if the bulb is burned out) opens the circuit and ensures that there is no electricity flowing.
Regardless of your age, we can all learn a thing or two about how to better maintain electrical safety. If you have young children at home, it is essential to educate them about the potential dangers of electricity and how to protect themselves effectively.
To have the electrical safety of your home assessed, contact an expert from Parker Poirier Électrique.
