Electrical Safety tips from Kelowna Electricians at Epic Electric

It’s a fact of life: kids are curious. They enjoy exploring the world around them and being independent. This curiosity can be great for a kid’s development but he or she must also learn the importance of remaining safe inside and outside the home. Electricity is everywhere. It powers the appliances and mobile devices that surround our kids – they come across outlets and power cords every day – but they don’t always know or remember what can be dangerous, so it’s up to you, their parents, to watch out for their safety. Electricity seeks the quickest and easiest path to reach the ground and, unfortunately, people are good conductors of electricity. So here are our top 5 electrical safety tips you need to teach your kids.

A DANGEROUS COMBINATION

We all know water and electricity don’t mix; but your kids may need reminding of this very important fact. In the home, keep electrical devices away from water sources like the sink, bath, or toilet. Be especially careful if your kid is handling a mobile device. Inform them of the dangers of dropping the device in water, and that it could do more than just damage the device: it could be hazardous to their health as well. In the yard, keep power tools and electrical lawn tools away from swimming pools and sprinklers. Warn your kids never to touch electric cords or switches when they are standing in water or have wet hands. Many electrical accidents around the house happen when people are using electricity near water.

STAY AWAY FROM SPARKS

Tell your kids to stay away from fallen wires. Even if these wires aren’t sparking, they may still be live. Even standing near split or broken wires or fallen power lines can be dangerous. Don’t build a tree house near power lines, and don’t allow your kids to climb trees near power lines. Don’t fly kites or balloons near power lines, and remind your kids not to climb any ladders.

OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND

Kids, especially young ones, love seeing what fits where. Use plastic outlet caps to prevent your kids sticking anything in the power sockets. Covering outlets will also help save energy by stopping cold drafts. In the home, store electrical products safely out of reach of your kids. If they can’t get to the electrical products, they’ll find something else to play with.

KEEP AWAY FROM CORDS

Inform your kids not to play with electrical cords. Don’t yank them out of the wall; don’t try to split them open. Pulling on a cord can damage the appliance, the plug or the outlet. For yourselves as well as your kids, don’t plug multiple appliances into one outlet or extension cord. This could overload your home’s electrical system, cause a short, or even start a fire. Make sure all of your electric cords are tucked away out of sight and out of the way, and keep electrical cords away from sources of heat.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

If there’s a thunderstorm, remind your kids to stay away from puddles and get inside as quickly as possible. When they’re old enough teach them to dial 911 if they see an electrical fire or someone has received an electrical shock. For yourselves, don’t use water to put out an electrical fire. Instead, unplug the appliance if it’s safe to do so then use a dry chemical fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire.

Teaching kids electrical safety is paramount to them enjoying all of the benefits of electricity while protecting them from all of the potential dangers.

For more information on electrical safety, check out Epic Electric’s blog. For service, call your Kelowna electrician day or night, because we know that emergencies don’t always keep a 9-5 schedule!