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necessary precautions, you can greatly reduce the risk to your child - and the rest of your family - that is posed by electricity. Here are a few pointers:
The fingers of a child can be small enough to fit into the holes in electrical outlets, so use your common sense and cover up any exposed electrical sockets with outlet protector plates, available from most DIY and hardware stores. The sliding type are the best kind to use on frequently used sockets, as it means you do not have to hunt for and plug in the plate every time you take something out.
Be sure to instruct your children as to the hazards posed by electricity as soon as you can. In particular, stress that they should never put anything in the holes of an electrical socket, or touch anything that has a plug attached to it. A system of visual cues, such as warning signs, can help them to understand which items are off limits.
Lock any wire or electrical boxes in your home, and put the keys in a location only you have access to.
If you live near power lines, expressly forbid your children from playing near them, especially if they are flying kites or climbing trees.
When your kids are old enough, show them how to plug in and unplug cables safely. In particular, you should stress the need to pull out cables by the plug rather than the cable itself.
Do not have any cables running across the floor, and use cable ties to keep them tied up behind pieces of furniture and out of the range of inquisitive young fingers.
Replace any worn, frayed or damaged cables and plugs as soon as you notice them.
Do not allow children to change lightbulbs until they are at least in their teens, and make sure that they know not to change them until the lamp has cooled down and the power is off.
If you have a space heater, keep the cables out of the way and place it up against the wall so that the cables cannot be pulled or tripped over.
Keep any lights in the bedrooms of your children as far from any material, such as curtains, clothes, and bed sheets, as possible.
Make sure that your children know that water and electricity do not mix well from an early age, making sure that they know to dry their hands before touching any appliance, and that they should not use mains-powered devices in the bathroom.
When appliances are not being used, unplug them and put them away wherever possible.
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