Your home is a place where you can relax and enjoy your time with your family. However, if you have babies, you know that sometimes they unconsciously put themselves at risk. You just blink and they’re putting their fingers into an outlet or trying to climb your new TV. In this blog, we share tips to baby-proof and improve the electrical safety of your home.
Start With The Outlets
We might have good news for those who live in an American house that was built in 2015 or later. The National Electrical Code was updated in that year to enforce the use of tamper-proof outlets. If you have a newer home, there’s a chance that your house meets the new standard and was designed to prevent accidents and increase electrical safety.
How do you tell the difference? Typically, the slots in tamper-proof outlets are narrower than regular outlets. Besides, the new model has plastic inside, which helps prevent babies from inserting sharp objects into the slots.
Even if you live in a new house, it’s still a good idea to call an experienced electrician to schedule an inspection at your place. Also, if your house is a little bit older, these professionals are prepared to replace your outlets and identify areas that present a risk to your kids.
Products For Electrical Safety
Fortunately, you’re not the only person concerned about baby safety and electrical accidents. There are several products designed to keep your little loved ones protected.
The most popular option is very basic, yet effective: an outlet cover. While it’s a simple way to prevent babies from putting their fingers or objects into the slots, adults can remove them easily whenever they need.
Another product created to baby-proof electrical outlets and cords is the outlet box. They are small containers that will completely enclose outlets and a portion of the cords in a way that even if a baby tries to pull them, they will remain plugged in.
Baby-proofing Electrical Hazards
Now that you have learned more about tamper-proof outlets and other products, we have some tips to increase the electrical safety of your home:
- Place furniture in front of outlets to make it hard for kids to pull the cord out.
- Try to hide power strips out of your baby’s sight. They might think it’s a toy.
- If you have devices and appliances with power cords that are too long, you should consider using an electrical cord shortener. Babies can stumble on long cords and get hurt.
- Call a professional electrician to uninstall outlets that you’re not using in your home.
- As your babies grow up, talk to them about home safety, electrical hazards, and first aid tips.
JDP Electric has been around for over 15 years. We have a team of 90 people servicing Fargo and surrounding areas. If you have any questions, contact us through our website or call (701) 232-1991.