Electricity and Children
When babies start to crawl or walk, extra care has to be taken that they do not harm themselves. Children are
naturally interested in cords and plugs and their curiosity could lead to serious accidents. Here is some advice on
how to make sure that your children are safe.
- Children love playing with loose hanging wires. Make sure that the cords of your iron and kettle are not left
hanging where a child can pull them, thereby causing a hot iron or kettle to fall down and burn the child. - If you have turned a heater on, watch your child carefully so that he / she does not stick their fingers through
the grill and touch the hot bars of the heater. - Do not let children play with electrical cords – they can chew on a live wire.
- Teach children not to play with electrical sockets. Keep all unused plugs in the house covered with a safety
plug. Babies love to stick their fingers into the plug holes. - Teach your children not to fly kites near power lines.
- Do not allow children to release metallic balloons outside.
- Never allow children to climb electric poles.
- DO not play with children on or near an electrical installation.
Outside the Home
There are a few situations outside the home that could be dangerous:
- When working with any electrical appliance, like power drills, make sure that they are connected properly.
Never use them in damp or wet areas. - Do not enter electrical sub-stations – the voltage is extremely high and very dangerous.
- Do not touch any electrical power lines. Under no circumstances should you ever go near them. All power
lines are very dangerous. - Do not make a fire underneath power lines.
- Never climb onto electric pylons.
- Do not play or build houses under power lines.
- Do not throw stones at insulators.
- Do not cut down trees next to power lines.
- Do not touch power lines that have fallen to the ground.
- Do not carry long objects under power lines.
* Sourced from site: www.eskom.co.za