What’s our favorite way to kick off Baby Safety Month? By taking a quick inventory of your home to be sure it’s electrically safe for your little ones!
Whether you’ve recently welcomed your first baby, or you already have a full house, it’s vital to keep your home electrically safe for the little ones. Electrical safety should be at the top of the list when preparing a safe space for babies and children to thrive.
“September is Baby Safety Month, and we want to encourage families to make smart electrical safety decisions when baby-proofing their homes,” said John Gasstrom, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “Tamper-resistant receptacles cost as little as 50 cents more than a standard outlet and can save a child’s life.”
What are tamper resistant receptacles (TRRs)? These outlets are now required in all new homes and homes renovated after 2008. The shutter system allows only plugs to be inserted because both springs must be compressed at the same time. While they might be a little more expensive, you can’t put a price on a child’s life.
But why do we need TRRs in our homes? The top two things we lose just happen to be two of the top objects inserted into outlets — hairpins and keys. While we can be more conscious of what’s inserted in those outlets, we could also cut out the middleman and update to TRRs.
Are there other ways to protect your children from electrical safety? Of course! Keep all electrical cords out of reach or secured to the floor. There’s no telling what he or she could be pulling down on when tugging on a cord.
If outlets are occupied, an easy way to prevent children from pulling on these cords is by moving furniture in front of the covers. If outlets are unoccupied, and you don’t have TRRs, its vital to find tight-fitting electrical outlet covers. Test them with your children to be sure they cannot pull them out. Their chances of electrical shock will be decreased immensely.
Being electrically safe isn’t difficult, but it does take time to keep you and your family safe. For more information about TRRs and how to keep your home safe, reach out to your electric cooperative.
