7 electricity safety tips for parents and children

Electricity is a normal part of everyday life and it's easy to forget how dangerous it can be.

Kids just can't seem to resist electrical outlets. Protect your children by buying outlet covers. These covers are cheap and easy to use – simply push them into the socket the same way you would a plug.
Hundreds of people are injured or even killed by electricity each year. That's why dealing with even small electrical problems sooner rather than later is preferable. 

 According to Carel Ferreira from Electricians Johannesburg, electrical safety is of paramount importance to parents. He says kids are naturally curious and don't always know how dangerous electricity can be, or what to do to keep safe.

Carel shares top 7 tips to help keep your kids safe around electricity:

1. Cover electrical outlets

Kids just can't seem to resist electrical outlets. The temptation to stick their fingers, a key or a fork tine into the socket puts them at real risk of electric shock.

Protect your children by buying outlet covers. These covers are cheap and easy to use – simply push them into the socket the same way you would a plug. They're too close fitting for little hands to remove, but you'll be able to pull them out easily when you need to use the socket.

2. Make it difficult to pull out cords

Children are naturally curious about anything and everything, including electrical cords. It only takes a moment for a little one to grab a cord and pull it out, exposing the socket.

Take care to keep electrical appliances out of reach. Most smaller and more portable devices can be hidden away until needed.
To prevent this, think carefully about where your outlets for your TV, stereo, games system and so on are located. Could you rearrange the furniture a little so that outlets in use are harder to get to?

You can also buy a cord-hiding device to keep cords away from little fingers.

Read more: 7 electricity safety tips for parents and children