Solving an Electrical Problem

Electrical safety is an important part of home safety for children, especially in older homes. The following are ways to keep kids safe from electrical hazards in the home.

Do Regular Electrical Testing

The first thing to do is schedule regular testing with an electrician, such as one from RDS Electric, to rule out any dangerous electrical problems in your home. For one, they can test your electrical outlets to see that everything is grounded correctly. They will audit circuit breakers to make sure that none are overloaded, and that they are in good condition and not a fire risk. Another thing that electricians do during a routine inspection is look at the installation of electrical wiring. They can spot damage and improperly wired areas quickly and correct them before a fire happens.

An electrician isn't the only one who can do electrical testing in your home, though. Look into continuity testers and other tools for home electrical inspection that are easy for parents to use on their own.

Keep Cords Out of the Way

One way to avoid accidents with electrical appliances is to keep cords taped to walls and out of the way. You don't want kids to be able to pull on electrical cords, possibly damaging the cords or bringing down an appliance on top of them. You could also choose to use outlet protectors that block outlets, making them less accessible for children to stick toys and small objects into them. However, that has to be balanced with the possibility that children will take out the outlet protectors and put them in their mouth, causing a choking risk.

Install RCD Protection

RCD protection can be installed by your electrician. It ensures that outlets don't deliver a charge that's high enough to cause a deadly current. It basically acts as a checks and balance system when deadly surges of current are present in the system.

Teach Kids About Electricity

Finally, be sure to teach children what electricity is and how to stay safe from a young age. There are many websites that you can use to give interactive lessons about electricity to younger children as well as speaking with them personally. Some general rules that you can give children include asking for help when using electrical outlets, not touching electrical appliances when they are still wet from bath time, and telling an adult if they see anything unusual while using an electrical appliance or outlet.