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Electrical
Safety
Exposure
to electricity can cause burns, muscle and organ damage, and in
many cases, death. Taking the necessary steps to prevent access
to the dangers described below, will greatly minimize the potential
for a serious injury to your children.
Floor
lamps should be either removed or secured as they can easily
be pulled over.
Baby
Monitors should not be left on the floor. Place the monitor
on a dresser or other furniture and run the cord to be plugged
into an outlet, behind furniture. If an outlet is not available
behind furniture try:
•
Rearranging the room
• Have an additional outlet installed by an electrician
• Utilize an outlet strip from an adjacent outlet to furniture
and secure cord with permanent outlet cover and wire duct
Portable
fans should be removed or relocated away from your child’s
access. Fan screens will not prevent children from getting their
fingers near fan blades.
Portable
heaters should be removed as they are very heavy and can be
easily knocked over. In addition, most heater surfaces get hot
enough to cause serious burns. Safe & Sound recommends installing
electric baseboard that can be mounted to the wall as an alternative.
Humidifiers
should not be placed on the floor because the cord is accessible.
Place them on top of furniture and drape the cord behind the furniture.
Electrical
Outlets:
DO
NOT USE REMOVABLE OUTLET CAPS!
Removable
outlet caps pose several hazards:
• Can be easily removed and pose a choking hazard.
• Frequently are removed to use the outlet, and then not
replaced and left on the floor.
• Will not protect an outlet if a plug is attached
• If a plug is inserted in one of the receptacles, and
an outlet cap in the other, we have seen the outlet cap actually
melt due to heating caused by the use of the outlet.
• Outlet cap prongs can break off and render the outlet
inoperable.
• When a plug is attached and pulled out halfway, the plug
tines are exposed while the appliance is still energized, posing
a shock hazard.
Extension
cords should never be used as a permanent
solution to provide power to any appliance as it can pose a fire
hazard (excess heating from length of improperly sized and overused
extension cord). In addition, never run an extension cord under
an area rug or carpeting.
Outlet
strips are an adequate solution to provide additional outlets
as long as they are located out of the child’s reach (e.g.
behind furniture). If it is not possible to safely locate an outlet
strip, the outlet strip should be protected.
Lamps should be positioned on the table where your child will
have the least access. The electrical cord should be dressed behind
the dresser, out your child’s reach and/or secured to furniture
to prevent a child from pulling down the lamp.
Lamp
Notes : Make sure all lamps have bulbs
in the light socket to prevent electrical shock hazard. Check
lamp cords for any frayed cordage. If frayed, replace cord and/or
lamp.
Wall
sconces that have external cords. Cords should be placed in
a wire track to prevent child from pulling on cord, or getting
their heads wrapped in the cords.
Loose
wires on floors should be secured in a wire track along the
baseboard.
Ground
Fault interrupter Circuits (GFIC) should be installed in all
wet locations (e.g. kitchen, bathroom, and utility areas). A GFIC
outlet senses current flow on the ground lead. Your body is a
natural ground, and electricity flows towards the least resistance,
causing a shock if you touch a live circuit. In a GFIC outlet,
the device senses the redirection of current flow and shuts off
the power.
Emergency
phone numbers should be displayed on
each phone and/or in a location that can be easily seen.
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