How safe are electricity sockets for kids? Electricity is an essential part of our everyday lives but can also be dangerous. Electric sockets are a common source of electrocution accidents, especially for children.
According to the National Safety Council, roughly 5 percent of all deaths due to electric shock occur in children under 5. And about half of these injuries are caused by home outlets and extension cords. Here are some actions you may do to safeguard your children from electrical danger in sockets:
Use protective covers on electrical cords and cables
These safety caps look like little plastic helmets that fit over the end of extension cords so that kids don’t put them in their mouths or chew on them; they also keep pets from chewing on them as well!
Related article: Extension Cord Safety
Invest in a Cord Shortener or Cover
A cord shortener or cover will keep the cord out of reach of your child’s hands and prevent them from pulling it out from the socket. This effective safety measure can be easily implemented at home with little effort and cost required. You can buy them at affordable rates at any hardware store or online stores like Amazon or eBay. Just find the right size for your socket and plug it in!
Invest in a baby safety outlet cover box
An outlet cover box is a great way to keep your child away from power sockets and cords as it completely covers them. It comes with a self-closing mechanism so that once you plug something into it, it automatically closes itself and keeps your child away from danger. You can easily find these online or at local stores such as Walmart or Target.
Use Self-Closing Outlet Covers
Outlet covers are one of the most effective ways by which you can keep your kids away from electrical sockets. These covers prevent kids from sticking their fingers into the sockets and thus save them from getting electric shocks. You can easily buy these covers at any local store at an affordable price. You may pick the one that best complements your child’s room or play area because they are available in a variety of colors and designs.
One thing you should remember while choosing these covers is that they should be easy enough to open up when needed by using only one hand (e.g., in case of an emergency).
Read more: Electrical Outlet Safety: 9 Tips
Get Plastic Outlet Covers
Plastic outlet covers are great as they protect children from getting shocked by accidentally touching the exposed outlet prongs. These plastic covers come in different shapes and sizes, so you can get one that fits in your existing electrical outlets. They are very easy to install as well and do not require any tools or expertise.
Install AFCI or GFCI outlets
These outlets protect against electric shock by sensing current leakage from an appliance or device before it reaches a dangerous level and shutting down power to the circuit when such leakage occurs. Experts also recommend these devices as they protect people even if they touch metal parts of an appliance while still plugged into an outlet. This often happens with kids who like playing with cords and plugs of appliances like vacuum cleaners or blenders.
Teach Your Kids about the Dangers of Electricity
How safe are electricity sockets for kids? If there’s one thing parents need to teach their children, it’s how dangerous electricity can be. Teach them about the dangers from an early age so they’ll know what to look out for when they’re older. For example, ensure your kids know not to play with wires or touch an outlet when wet or standing in water (including while bathing). Also, ensure they don’t stick anything into a socket or try to rewire anything themselves; this could result in an electric shock or even death if something goes wrong.
More insights: Electrical Safety Tips for Children
Key Operated Sockets
Key-operated sockets are a great way to keep children away from electricity. Unlike traditional plugs, these sockets require a key to be inserted before power flows through them. This prevents children from accidentally plugging something into these sockets and getting electrocuted. These sockets are also available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns, so you may choose one that best matches your decor.
Use shatter protection outlets
These outlets will not work unless all three pins are inserted into the outlet. If you have one of these types of outlets already installed in your home, then you will need to buy a new electrical socket box as well as install them both together in order for it to work properly. A shattered outlet is also known as a tamper-proof outlet because it prevents children from tampering with the electrical outlet.
Use tamper-resistant receptacles
Receptacles are the plug slots in the wall outlet. They have an internal mechanism that prevents children from inserting foreign objects (like paper clips) into them. Tamper-resistant receptacles are easier to use because they don’t require pushing down hard on the plug to insert it into the socket. In addition, they have a cover over the prongs on top of the socket which makes them harder for kids to grab onto and pull out of the wall.
Cord Protectors
Cord protectors are another easy way to keep children safe around electrical outlets. A cord protector is a flexible plastic shield that covers the entire cord length, with openings at either end so you can still plug it into the outlet. The cord protector keeps your child from touching both ends of an extension cord at once, which could result in electrocution or an electrical burn if they accidentally touched both sides of the socket simultaneously.
Conclusion
How safe are electricity sockets for kids? Despite all the benefits of technology and science, teaching kids about electrical safety is important. Just like adults, children are especially at risk of getting hurt or even killed by electricity. It is never too early to teach your little ones about electrical safety. So the next time you head out to pick up a new electrical toy or appliance for your home, remember that child-friendly power outlets in your house can prevent accidents.