ELECTRICITY SAFETY TIPS FOR PARENTS

Electricity is a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons or protons), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current. We should always keep children away from electricity as they do not understand the danger of electricity and electrical equipment. In their innocent and imaginative minds what seems harmful tends to go unnoticed or appear to be fun.The following are the do’s and don’ts that should be observed by parents:

DO’S

• Look around your house for potential hazards that your child may view.
• Protect small children by using plastic safety covers in all unused outlets and keeping cords out of sight and reach.
• Replace and never tape cracked cords.
• Keep all electrical devices away from water
• Place furniture in front of outlets to keep them out of your child’s sight.
• Use cord covers to tuck loose electrical cords against a baseboard so children can’t pull, chew, or trip on them.
• Know where your home’s fuse boxes and circuit breakers are and how to turn them off in an emergency.
• Fly kite far away from electrical power lines or substations
• Ask your child to ask a grown up for help when they need to use something that uses electricity.
• Look up and look out for power lines before your child climbs a tree.
• Ask your child to immediately seek shelter if lightning or thunder is present while playing outdoors.

DON’TS

• Use extension cords as permanent substitutes for too few outlets.
• Overload an extension cord with more appliances than it is designed to accommodate.
• Keep appliances close to the sink or tub, where they could accidentally fall into the water.
• Run electrical cords under rugs. Walking over cords could fray or damage them.
• Allow electrical cords to hang off counter tops, where a child might pull them.
• Don’t plug an extension cord into another.
• Never allow children to climb a utility pole or tower as the electricity carried through this equipment is extremely high voltage and could kill them.
• Don’t throw anything at wires or electrical equipment, and don’t fasten things to utility poles. Damaged equipment can be very dangerous.
• Don’t touch someone that is being shocked until the electricity has been turned off.

NB: REMEMBER SAFETY IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO YOU AND YOU’RE CHILDREN