Home Safety: 5 Energy Safety Tips Every Parent Should Know
When you have small children, there is a lot to think about. How to keep your kids safe is always at the top of parents’ minds. From installing safety latches on cabinets to putting gates on the stairs, parents go a long way to ensure their children have a safe place to live and play. To help safeguard your little ones from potential electrical hazards within your home, we present these tips that can help parents get a little peace of mind when it comes to safety in the home.
1. Cover Electrical Outlets
By nature, small and younger children are curious. They love to explore every part of the home they live in, even the parts that can be dangerous. Exposed electrical outlets can present a hazard of electrical shock to children if they try to stick their fingers or an object into the outlet. Be sure to cover all unused outlets in your home with tamper-resistant safety caps.
2. Round-up Loose Cords
With so many different electronics in our homes today, electrical outlets can get quite busy with cords everywhere. Loose cords can present tripping hazards and cause injuries for small children. To help keep cords safe, you can simply tie or bundle them with easy-to-lock zip ties from your local hardware store.
3. Don’t Overload Outlets
Electrical outlets in your home are designed to deliver a specific amount of electricity. Plugging too many electronics in at once can create a fire hazard. If you have any area of your home where you need to plug-in multiple devices, be sure to use a power strip that can help safely power all your electronics. We recommend an energy saving power strip for the added benefit of energy-efficiency!
4. Replace Damaged Power Cords
Exposed electrical wiring is a danger that should never be ignored. Should you notice that a cord’s protective coating has been stripped away, you should replace this cord immediately. If you are not able to replace the cord quickly, you should cover it with electrical tape to eliminate the potential for electrical shock if your little one was to touch the exposed wires.
5. Avoid Extension Cords
Just like loose cords from electronics, extension cords can create tripping hazards for small children and could cause damage to the electrical wiring of an outlet if the cord is ripped out of the wall. If you need to run extension cords throughout your home, consider contacting an electrician to discuss installing additional electrical outlets in your home.
