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What are the most common causes of electric shocks?
For children, the most common causes are:
- Biting or chewing on electrical cords
- Poking metal objects into outlets or pressing mouth against outlet
- Playing with electrical cords and lights (on Christmas trees, for example)
What can I do to prevent electric shocks?
Here are some very tangible steps you can take to protect your child from electric shock:
- Until your child learns to stay away from outlets, cover them with plug covers and position heavy furniture in front of them if you can.
- Replace frayed wires and keep all electrical cords out of reach.
- Don't allow your child to play outside or swim during electrical storms.
- Make sure all appliances in your home have an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label.
- Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) for outlets in the bathroom, kitchen, and yard. A GFCI is a fast-acting circuit breaker designed to shut off electric power if the flow of electricity is interrupted. These circuit breakers will help prevent electric shock in damp areas.
- Unplug appliances when not in use in the bathroom, or use them in another room. (Dry your hair in the bedroom rather than in the bathroom, for example.)
- Supervise your child while he's playing with electric toys (like a train set) or using electric appliances (like the toaster).
- When outdoors with your child, watch for broken electrical poles and downed wires — especially after a storm.