How to teach your kids about electrical safety
Ahrns Electrical’s Tristan Ahrns explains some of the things you can do to keep your family safe.
This sponsored story is brought to you by Ahrns Electrical.
Electricity can be dangerous.
As grown-ups, we know it well, but young children have no idea until we teach them how to stay safe.
What are some of the things parents and carers should look out for around the home, and what issues should they teach kids about?
Ahrns Electrical’s Tristan Ahrns – a dad to two preschool-aged children himself – explains some common hazards and solutions.
Electricity and water don’t mix
Water is a good conductor of electricity, which means an electrical charge can travel through water more easily than other substances.
That’s why we keep electrical appliances away from baths, sinks and rain – and that’s something you can teach your kids about.
But what about keeping water away from electrical items?
Even spilling a drink bottle on a phone charger can cause a serious electrical hazard.
“We had one on a houseboat where a drink bottle leaked on the end of it and it was shorting out, and the end of the cord melted,” Tristan says.
Don’t poke things in power points, or toasters
Power points and power boards are where the electricity is, and messing around with them could cause a shock that can kill you or your child.
It’s a good idea to turn power points off when they’re not in use.
But kids love flipping switches, so it’s safest to install socket covers or dummy plugs on any empty power points, too – they are available at various retailers for as little as a few dollars.
Another place where electricity lives is inside a toaster – be sure to teach kids not to stick knives or other implements in there if their toast gets stuck.
Electrical cords are not for eating
Children should not be allowed to chew on extension cords, phone chargers or other cables.
Yes, they’re coated in plastic, but there is a non-zero risk that they could suffer a serious injury if they manage to get through.
“You can get burns and stuff inside your mouth if you do that,” Tristan says.
Watch out for cord damage by dogs or other pets, too – it might be the dog that chews a cable, but your son or daughter who gets hurt as a result.
Wrapping tape or something else around a damaged cord will not reduce the risk.
It’s a good idea to teach kids not to yank cords out of sockets, as well, as this can eventually damage them and cause the same sort of problems.
What else should I teach my kids about?
- Beware of button batteries – if swallowed, they can cause severe internal burns, so you must keep them out of reach
- Electric blankets should not be used on children’s beds
- Electric heaters can be dangerous, and should be mounted up high, out of reach
- Don’t overload power points by plugging in too many power boards or double adapters
- Keep power points turned off until appliances are safely plugged in
It’s okay for kids to experience some level of risk during play – in fact, it will help them become more skilled and confident – but electrical safety is not something to be trifled with.
As a parent or carer, the best way you can keep them safe is to supervise them and show them what safe behaviour looks like.
But there’s one more thing you can do, too, Tristan says.
Make sure your safety switch is up to the task
The best way to keep your family safe from electrical hazards is to have a working safety switch hooked up to your home’s electrical circuits.
If it detects an electrical leak, it will shut off the power within milliseconds, potentially saving a life.
“You obviously want to be vigilant, but you want to set yourself up for success, too,” Tristan says.
“You don’t want to have an old fuse box that doesn’t trip if someone is getting electrocuted.
“Upgrade your safety switch if needed and make sure your wiring’s good, because if you don’t have a good earthing point, it won’t actually trip.”
If you have a young family or are expecting a new baby, especially in an older home, now might be a good time for Ahrns Electrical to send someone to check that everything is still compliant.
One of their local experts can test everything in the house, if needed, and give you a full report.
“It’s pretty simple, but it’s important,” Tristan says.
- Contact Ahrns Electrical: Call 0423 197 608 between 9am and 5pm on weekdays, visit ahrnselectrical.com.au or follow Ahrns Electrical on Facebook or Instagram.
- More information: Some good resources, including a printable chatterbox, are available at www.electricalsafety.qld.gov.au. For general home safety, visit kidsafesa.com.au or parenting.sa.gov.au.
Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news.
Peri Strathearn
