Every year it’s estimated by the US Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that at least 24,000 children under the age of 10-years-old are seriously hurt in a household accident involving an electrical outlet. The way it happens is that the child sticks some very common household object into the outlet such as a bobby pin, keys, paperclip, toys, or jewelry and then suffers a serious shock or electrical burn. It’s pretty scary when you think about it, because on average that means that 7 children a day are injured from something very preventable. At Allen Electric we will be able to child proof all the outlets in your home in a few easy steps.
The first type of safety you want to have us check is to make sure all your outlets are up to code, and working properly. That way you are protecting your entire family from frayed wires in electrical outlets that can cause a fire.
Your next step is to have us child proof all your existing outlets. We do this for you in two ways. First we use plug covers that fit over single or double outlets, that will work while your appliances are plugged in. It’s easy for an adult to be able to open the cover with it’s “snap and release” mechanism to access the plug, but a child won’t be able to. For added safety we’ll even go a step further, and make sure that all the cords to common appliances are shortened so that the child has less of a chance to play with the cord. The second safety measure we recommend is using outlet covers over any open electrical outlets. These covers fit securely into the holes of the outlet, and are very difficult for a child to remove. They come in double covers or single covers to fit any open outlet you have around the house. Don’t forget the outside of the home too.
Baby proofing your home if you have a new little one around, or child proofing your home for older children is still an important step that we take very seriously at Allen Electric. Give us a call today, and we’ll be happy to send someone out to make your home as safe electrically as possible.
