Are Your Power Outlets Childproof?

Posted on 2 March 2018

Your child’s safety is the most important factor to consider when letting them roam around at home. If your little one is at the age where they like to crawl around and touch different objects, then you need to make extra sure that your power outlets are childproof.

While it may be obvious, there are several electrical hazards that can come from a power outlet. If your child accidentally plays with an outlet, there is a huge risk for electrical danger. In order to protect your child in the best ways, you need to make sure that all of the power outlets in your home are childproof. Contact an electrical company in Singapore if you need assistance.

There are several ways you can childproof the outlets in your home. Below are a few of the best ways to get started.

Caps and Plugs

You can use outlet caps and outlet plugs as cheap and viable options for protecting your children from outlets. Caps and plugs are inserted into or over the holes of the outlet, whether you have a two-pronged or three-pronged panel.

A word of caution: Some outlet caps can be removed by children as they get older. If they do so, they may be tempted to put these plastic caps into their mouths. This can present a choking hazard, so make sure to consider all outlet protection options before settling for the caps.

Plugs are a bit easier to use and are less risky, as they plug directly into the outlet and are harder to pull out.

Sliding Outlet Cover Options

Sliding outlet covers are another great option if you want to provide protection to your child while also making sure they can’t put any of the parts into their mouths. This is easy to install, as all you have to do is remove your current cover plate and replace it with the sliding cover.

This plastic cover can be slid over the outlet holes whenever the plugs aren’t in use. This prevents your child from being able to stick their fingers or an object into the holes, which poses a hazard for electrocution or electrical fire.

Box Outlet Cover Options

Another type of popular cover to use is the box outlet cover, which essentially puts a childproof cover over the outlet. The cover needs to be lifted upward in order to plug something in.

It is impossible for your baby to remove this type of protection, deeming the outlet completely safe while your child is exploring around the home. There are no parts small enough to be choking hazards, and there are plenty of different box outlet cover types for all the different types of outlets you may have in your house.

Box outlet cover options are also popular protection ideas for outlets that are placed on the exterior of the home. If it rains or if there is a leak, you can use the box cover to protect the outlet from the outside elements.

Other Outlet Protection Options

There are a few other options you can consider when it comes to childproofing your outlets. For example, you can install a tamper-resistant outlet. This is a great way to update your outlets as well as guarantee that your child doesn’t risk hurting themselves with them. They have a built-in protection system to make it a lot more difficult to be electrocuted when tampered with.

Overall, it is important to consider various power outlet protection options in order to best childproof your home. It isn’t worth risking the life of your child if your outlets are left open and exposed. You can use this as an opportunity to do a routine check of all of the outlets in your home, which will give you a good indication on which ones need to be replaced. If you see anything that is broken or loose, you should contact your electrician right away.

Tamper-resistant outlets, as well as outlet plugs and covers, are all viable options for childproofing your home.

---

---