How Residential Electricians Can Help Keep Kids Safe Around Electricity

Electricity and children are not a good mix. It is so important to have a residential electrician perform a home inspection every 10 years. A residential electrician can help ensure the safety of children by helping to childproof a home.

Children are especially at risk from electrical dangers. First, they may not understand the danger. They also have less body mass and thinner skin. This means that the same jolt will cause much more damage to a child than an adult. This could include serious burns and maybe even death.

A residential electrician can inspect is the condition of cords and wires used in the home. An electrician will recommend replacing any damaged cords and keeping them out of high traffic areas. He or she will also look closely at the number of extension cords being used and will install additional outlets if needed. Extension cords can be a fire hazard if a family overuses them to fix wiring problems.

A residential electrician can also assist with childproofing outlets. Many parents rely on plastic plugs, which are ineffective and can become a choking hazard. In addition, many of the tamper proof outlets do not fully seal the opening. This means that a child could still put a stick pin into the socket. A residential electrician can help the parents choose the protection that is best for their family and install them.

Another safety feature a residential electrician can help install is GFCIs. GFCIs are ground-fault circuit interrupters. These outlets come with a sensor that shuts off if there is a dangerous change in the current. Frequently, GFCIs will be found in bathrooms or kitchens due to water hazards. As of 2008, the National Electric Code requires them in all new homes. However, older homes may need to have them installed.

Finally, a residential electrician may offer suggestions on smoke alarms. Though they may not protect from an electrical shock, smoke alarms can be the best way to protect the whole family from an electrical fire. The electrician can install alarms that are both battery powered and hard-wired. The alarms can be interconnected so that all of them sound at the same time.

Protecting children from electrical shocks or fires is a huge concern for parents. A residential electrician can help ensure their safety with a home inspection. This will include looking at cords, childproofing outlets, and installing GFCIs and smoke alarms. These can all go a long way toward minimizing the risks to children.

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