Help children learn about electricity dangers

Now more than ever our children are using computers or personal devices for school.  Teaching our children about electricity safety is super important as electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires each year, nearly 500 deaths, more than 1,400 injuries, and $1.3 billion in property damage.

Here are some simple topics to discuss with your children:

• Never put fingers or other objects in an outlet
• Keep metal objects out of toasters.
• Never use anything with a cord or plug around water.
• Never pull a plug out by its cord
• Stay away from substations and power lines.
• Don’t climb on power poles.
• Never fly kites near power lines
• Stay away from broken or fallen power lines.
• Never touch or climb trees that are near power lines.
• Never touch big, metal transformer boxes with warning signs
• Obey warning signs.

Parents Remember: 

Overloaded circuits are dangerous. If your kids are plugging in many devices, make sure you check them regularly. While modern circuit breakers help, there is still a risk of and fire and sparking with overloaded circuits. A lot has been done since the old days of electric power to improve its safety. Most homes are wired with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), which cut off power to an outlet that surges or shorts out, and other safety features. In spite of this, caution is still needed. In fact, in the United States each year, electrical shock or burns injure more than 4,000 children.