At CBS Electrical we take safety very seriously. Here are a couple quick electrical safety tips you can talk to your children about.
1. Do not put your fingers or anything else inside of an outlet (aside from a plug)
The holes in an outlet carry a very powerful electric current that can severely harm you.
2. Never fish anything from the toaster with your fingers or a metal object
The inside of toasters contain electric coils (used for heating your bread). Your skin and metals act as a conductor. When these coils interact with a conductor the electricity is carried from the coils through that conductor. Anybody on the other end of that conductor will succumb to electric shock.
3. Watch out for power lines
Do not touch power lines with anything and do not touch anything that is touching a power line; this includes climbing trees near power lines or flying a kite close to a power line. Power lines carry power from one place to another and hold a lot of electricity in them. Leave them alone to avoid electric shock.
4. Organize your electrical cords
Unorganized electrical cords are a tripping hazard, as well as an electric shock and fire hazard.
5. Never pull a plug out by it’s cord
If you pull a plug out by it’s cord rather than the plug itself it can damage the cord which can cause fire or an electric shock.
6. Never mix electricity and water
Water acts as a conductor for electricity so it is important to make sure you keep all electronics away from water otherwise you are at a high risk of electrocution.
7. Do not touch a fallen power line
If you see a fallen power line: move away from it and do not touch it. Avoid stepping in any water/ puddles that may also be touching the power lines, report the fallen power line to an adult.
8. Heed the warnings on electrical/ transformer boxes
do not touch electrical boxes that contain “High voltage” warnings. These warnings oftentimes come supplied with pictures which make it easy for children to understand and follow.
Conclusion
Electricity is powerful and your kids are curious, this is why it is important to educate your children on electrical safety! We hope the above tips have helped spark some safety lessons in your household.
As a fun activity, have your child point out all of the electrical sources in a building, your home, or outside. Give them a scenario such as “you see an exposed wire on the ground, what do you do?” and brainstorm with them on the best course of action.
Electrical hazards can also occur where you do not see them - inside the walls of your home.
If you are living in an older home you may need electrical upgrades to ensure your electrical systems are up to code and safe.
Talk to CBS Electrical today to set up your next electrical home inspection.