May is Electrical Safety Month, the perfect time to learn about electricity safety for your kids at home.
Electricity is invisible so it can be challenging to teach little ones, and even older kids, how it can hurt them and how to stay safe.
Here are our top tips to teach your kids to keep them safe around electricity.
Electrical Outlets
Most outlets are close to the floor, making them an easy target for little hands.
- Don’t put anything in electrical outlets except electrical plugs. Fingers, pointy objects, especially metal ones, do not go in electrical outlets.
- Very young children should not plug or unplug anything without adult supervision.
- Older children should learn not to plug multiple devices into an outlet or an older power strip; use one device at a time or use a power strip with a surge protector.
↳ You can help protect kids from electric shock by using outlet covers on unused electrical outlets. When possible, you can also block access to electrical outlets by putting furniture in front of them.
Cord Safety
Electrical cords are safe as long as we handle them the right way.
- Unplug cords by pulling straight out on the plug. Never pull them out by yanking on the cord.
- If an electric cord has wires showing or is broken, don’t touch it.
- Never put cords in your mouth or around your neck.
↳ Help kids stay safe from danger of strangling or electrical burns by keeping cords well out of reach.
Water and Electrical Safety
Water and electricity together are very dangerous because electricity can travel through the water and electrocute people, if they’re touching the water.
- Never touch an electrical cord or electrical device while you are wet, standing in a puddle of water, or in the tub or shower.
↳ Remind kids often that water and electricity don’t mix!
Sources
Electrical Safety Basics for Children, texascooppower.com, September 2021
Electrical safety for kids, bchydro.com
Kids Corner: Electric Safety, nj.com