Electrical Safety for Kids and Adults

The vast majority of people today depend on electricity for daily tasks at home and at work. Kids today play with more electronic and digital devices than any other previous generation. Despite the massive proliferation of electrical systems and electronic devices in recent years, many people take electronic devices for granted. Many electronics are capable of seriously damaging or deadly shocks. It’s essential for people of all ages to know some electrical safety best practices.

Virtually every American home has electrical wiring and at least a few electrical appliances. These appliances may include TVs, dishwashers, laundry machines, clothes dryers, refrigerators, and countless other devices. Before installing or handling any type of electrical device or any device that requires an electrical source for power, consult the included owner’s manual or instructions to determine any safety hazards. Always follow instructions for any electrical device you purchase. If the manufacturer failed to include necessary safety warnings or instructions, you may have grounds for a product liability claim if a dangerous or defective product causes an electric shock.

Most of the best ways to avoid electrical injuries in the home are common sense. Never clean or attempt to repair an electronic device without unplugging it from the electrical outlet or power source. Never insert foreign objects into electrical devices to attempt to repair them or remove debris or other particles. When you leave your home for work or any other extended time, make sure to switch off your lights and other electronics. Never leave space heaters, ovens, or other electronic heat sources powered on while you’re out of the house.

Electric shocks are not only painful; they can also cause severe medical issues including nerve damage and cardiac problems. The human body generates its own electrical signals, and any exposure to high-voltage electric discharge can disrupt these signals and damage nerve endings. Electricity can cause severe injuries to adults, but children face an even greater risk of electric shocks. Children are smaller and less resilient to harm than adults and therefore more vulnerable to catastrophic injury from electric shocks.

Kids should know basic electrical safety as well. If your children play with any devices that require electrical outlets, make sure your children know to never play with cords or pull them from outlets. If you notice any frayed or damaged cords, remove them immediately. If your children use handheld electronic video game systems or tablets that require chargers, keep the chargers in a safe location and retrieve them when necessary.

If you have very small children, there are many devices you can purchase to protect your little ones from electric shocks. Consider purchasing covers for electrical cords and locking covers for outlets. This will prevent small children from damaging cords and suffering shocks or sticking objects into wall outlets.

The average American home has many electronic devices and electrical systems. If you need to plug multiple devices in within the same room but are short on outlet space, only use a surge protector with actual shock protection instead of an extension cord or outlet adapter. Some modern outlet adapters feature surge protection, too.

If your workplace contains any electrical fire or electric shock risks, use extra care in dangerous areas and report known safety issues as soon as possible to a supervisor. If a negligent supervisor or employer receives notice of an electrical hazard but fails to correct it in a timely and acceptable manner, any employees who sustain injuries as a result would have grounds for personal injury lawsuits against the employer.

Ultimately, common sense and following directions included with electronic products are the best methods of preventing electrical fires and injuries from electric shocks. If you or a loved one sustained an electrical shock injury due to the negligence of another party, consult a personal injury attorney about your options for legal recourse.

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