Childproofing Your Outlets & Why It’s Important

According to a survey conducted by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), 2,400 children are injured by electrical outlets every year.

One-third of parents with young children do not have childproofed outlets. Think about how many outlets you have in your entire home. You have dozens of them! So, what are the dangers, and how can you protect your children in the future?

Why Can Electrical Outlets be Dangerous?

If something that can conduct electrical current is inserted into an outlet, it can shock your child and cause severe injuries. Here are the common small metal objects that kids get their hands on:

• Hairpins

• Keys

• Paper clips

• Jewelry

• Utensils

Always keep an eye on your children and place small metal objects on hard-to-reach shelves.

Childproofing Your Outlets

There are a few different ways you can childproof your outlets. The traditional option is to simply cover your outlets. Outlet covers can be effective for some, but children as young as two can get past these simple covers, according to the study by the ESFI. Covers just aren’t as effective as the following choices.

Tamper Resistant Receptacles, or TRRs, require that equal pressure be applied on each outlet receptacle to open the cover and reveal the outlet.

Electrical outlets can be an overlooked aspect of childproofing, but the solution is easy if you have the right equipment installed. Childproofed outlets can give you the peace of mind you need to know your child is safe in your home.

Ostrom’s electrical experts can replace your outlets with safer options. Feel free to give us a call at (540) 685-4040 or fill out an online contact form to set up an appointment.