Categories Baby Proofing, Residential, Safety

Everything You Need to Know About Tucson Baby Proofing

Everything You Need to Know About Tucson Baby Proofing

Residential electrical accidents in Tucson are few and far apart. Pima County residents are diligent homeowners and even better parents. If you live in Tucson, baby proofing is something you care about.

Even if your children are in elementary school, don’t relax your guard for home safety. Tucson baby proofing is a good idea for any home in which children live and play.

Tucson Baby Proofing and Child Safety

Your kids, grandkids; all children visitors should be able to move freely and safely in your home. Here are some Tucson baby proofing tips for homeowners.

Get on the floor. Literally, lie on the floor in every room and look around to see what a crawler or toddler sees. If something might be dangerous, fix it. You don’t take chances when it comes to kids’ safety.

Falls are the leading cause of injuries in children.

  • Attach barrier along banisters/railings.
  • Attach furniture that can be tilted/toppled to the wall.
  • Avoid playgrounds with concrete/hard surfaces.
  • Consider wall-mounted television for flat screens.
  • Do not use cribs with drop-side rails.
  • Don’t let kids lean on window screens.
  • Examine playground equipment for open spaces and be there to catch them.
  • Install stairway/bedroom safety gates.
  • Never use accordion gates.
  • Secure outdoor play equipment.
  • Use museum putty to secure heavy shelf items.
  • Use window guards and locks.

Approximately 100 children die every year from electrocution.

Young children, particularly toddlers, experience electric shock most often when they bite into electrical cords or poke metal objects such as forks or knives into unprotected outlets or appliances. These injuries can also take place when electric toys, appliances, or tools are used incorrectly… Christmas trees and their lights are a seasonal hazard.
healthychildren.org

Tucson Baby Proofing for Electrical Safety

Preparing for a new family member is an exciting time! And the time when they become curious crawlers isn’t far off.

The terms “wall outlet,” “electrical receptacle,” “plug-ins,” and “electric outlets” are synonymous. They are the most likely sites for electrocution. If your Tucson home was built after 2008, it has tamper-resistant electrical outlets. If your home is older, ask your local electrician to replace receptacles.

Here’s what you need to know about Tucson baby proofing and child electrical safety:

  • Do:
    • Be vigilant about frayed cords
    • Make family rules about who can plug-in/turn-on electronics
    • Provide opportunities to use electronics under supervision
    • Watch electrical safety videos together
  • Don’t:
    • Leave appliances plugged-in when not in use
    • Put electronics near water
    • Put fun/colorful items near electrical outlets
    • Work with electronics, cords, outlets, etc. while children are watching
  • Hide electrical cords. Curious babies put everything in their mouths.
  • Long cords are strangulation hazards. Get cord shorteners, cord sleeves, or covers.
  • Safeplates cover electrical outlets to provide another child safety option.
  • Unplug unused electronics. Put toasters, hairdryers, etc. out of sight.
  • Use outlet plug caps. They’re cheap. Children watch you and will mimic pulling out an outlet plug cap.

Powerstrips Increase Danger

Imagine a power strip from a baby’s perspective. Holes, cords, a flip-switch… It’s another version of a Playskool® learning toy to them.

There are several powerstrip issues.

First, if you’re using a lot of powerstrips, you need a professional electrical inspection. You may be overloading your wiring and need an upgrade.

The powerstrip’s unused outlets are a shock hazard. But toddlers can and will unplug what’s plugged in. Invest in a childproof power strip cover. Then duct-tape all gaps and cords.

TIO Electric Offers Tucson Baby Proofing Inspections

A Turn It On Electric pro will inspect your home and offer childproofing suggestions. Your electrician may spot other issues that need attention, as well.

During these inspections, we most often hear, “The baby won’t ever be alone in that room…” He or she will be in that room as soon as possible. Never take chances with children.

Contact Turn It on Electric to schedule a Tucson baby proofing inspection today.

Categories Baby Proofing, Residential

Baby proofing your Phoenix home

Baby proofing your Phoenix home

Electricity is essential to your home, but it can also be hazardous to your children. That is why baby proofing Phoenix homes is so important. It really isn\’t difficult at all to accomplish and won\’t cause more than minor inconveniences to your lifestyle. Here\’s what you need to do.

Cover All Electrical Outlets

The first step to baby proofing Phoenix homes is to protect your outlets. You can find electrical outlet covers at any baby or home improvement store. Some are inexpensive and easy to install. However, the traditional outlet covers can be taken out by little hands and could present a choking hazard.

While the outlet covers may work, they don\’t actively work on their own. They require you to remember to put them back in and they can be bypassed by simply removing them.

A better option is to upgrade your home to include tamper-resistant outlets. They include a small piece of plastic built into the outlet that only moves when a two-pronged plug is plugged in. A screwdriver or bobby pin won\’t be able to bypass these types of outlets. While they are individually quite inexpensive a professional should install them.

Keep Electrical Cords Out of Sight

If you need to run any electrical cords across the floor, it is important to cover them whenever possible. This will minimize the risk of you or your children tripping over them. This can also send your electronic devices crashing to the floor, so it is in your best interest to prevent that from happening.

In addition, small children can inadvertently wrap cords around their necks, potentially leading to the risk of strangulation. Install cord covers when baby proofing your Phoenix home so that the cords lie flat against the floor, or bind them up tightly with a rubber band or cord keeper. The fewer exposed cords you have, the safer your kids will be.

If you find yourself using extension cords regularly in your home, it may be time to install a few new outlets or electrical circuits.

Unplug Any Devices That Are Not in Use

Kids are remarkably resourceful and will try to use your electronic devices. They likely see you using them and want to imitate your behaviors. Whenever you are not using a particular device, unplug it from the wall so your little ones can\’t turn it on. Be sure to tuck the cord back behind the device so they can\’t use it to pull the device down. Not only will this keep your kids safer, but it can also help prevent wasting electricity on devices that are not needed. This can help you save on your energy costs, freeing up more money in your budget for fun activities with your children.

Keep Your Outlets and Wiring in Good Repair

Faulty outlets and deteriorated wiring can expose your home to the risk of electrical fires and power failures. They can also pose a risk to your children, so keeping them in good shape is crucial to baby proofing Phoenix homes. If you suspect any problems with your outlets or wiring, have a qualified electrician inspect and repair them for you. It is incredibly dangerous to try to do electrical work yourself, so leave this task to a professional. Aim to have your electrical system inspected about once a year to ensure everything is safe and reliable.

Get More Help with Baby Proofing Phoenix Homes

Of course, nothing keeps your kids safe like parent supervision, but it is virtually impossible to keep your eyes on them every second of the day. This is especially true if you have multiple kids.

If you would like even more tips for baby proofing your Phoenix home, you can count on Turn It On Electric. Our expert electricians can help you identify any potential dangers in your home and advise you as to how to fix them. We want to help you keep your kids as safe as possible, so don\’t be shy about getting in touch with us to schedule an appointment.

Categories Baby Proofing, Residential, Safety

How to childproof a home office

How to childproof a home office

The chance to spend more time with your family is one of the best parts of working from home. Before you let your little ones into your workspace, though, it is important to learn how to childproof a home office. There are many parts of a home office that can be dangerous to babies or young children if they are left unsupervised for even a few minutes. By childproofing, you will create an office environment for fun and learning, not danger.

Guard Against Electrical Hazards

Electrical cords are more than just tripping hazards. They carry enough voltage to severely burn or even kill a child who bites one or cuts one open. A child could also accidentally use a cord to bring heavy office equipment toppling down onto them, causing injury or worse.

To prevent this from happening, it is important to secure loose cords with cable ties. Also, use cable clips or electrical tape to affix the cords to the floor around the edge of the room, then cover them with cable trunking.

Electrical outlets are an even greater shock hazard and can be dangerous to children. For these, skip the plastic inserts, which are easy for curious little fingers to pry out. Instead, contact your licensed electrician to install tamper resistant outlets. For power strips, use safety covers to guard against electrical hazards.

Secure the Furniture and Equipment

Kids love to climb, but if your child accidentally pulls a filing cabinet over, the consequences could be tragic. In the US, every other week, a child dies from being crushed by tipped furniture. When you childproof a home office, anchoring bookshelves, filing cabinets, and similar furniture is an important step. Use at least two furniture restraints, or furniture anchors, to secure each item to the wall studs. If you have heavy books, install a strap across the front of the shelf to hold the books in place.

It is a good idea to also avoid piling books or files on top of tall furniture. A child can easily shake the furniture hard enough to bring the pile down. Remove stools, boxes, and other items a child could use to climb up onto taller furniture. Cover any sharp furniture corners or edges with PVC-free corner guards large enough not to pose a choking hazard.

Install a monitor mount to secure your computer monitor to your desk. Use safety straps, often called earthquake straps, to secure your hard drive, printer, scanner, and other equipment. Pay special attention to the shredder, which can leave a child permanently disabled. Place it off the floor or lock it in a case or closet, and keep it unplugged until you need it. To protect your equipment from spills and sticky fingers, use waterproof covers.

Remove Little Hazards

When you childproof a home office, the little things matter, too. The pens, paper clips, staples, and rubber bands on your desk can look tempting to a toddler who puts everything in their mouth. It takes just a moment for a child to choke on one of these small items.

Scissors can cause serious injury to a child who grabs them off your desk. Colorful ink cartridges also look fun to play with. If your child pries one open, though, they can have your office looking like an abstract painting in seconds.

To protect both your child and your work, keep small items like these in your desk so they are out of sight.

Establishing clear rules for behavior in the office can also help, but kids are curious and there\’s no 100-percent effective way to childproof a home office. Never leave your child in your office unattended. To keep little ones out when you\’re away, install an exterior quality lock on your office door.

Contact Turn It On Electric to inspect the safety of your electrical system and ensure your home office is a safe place for children.

Categories Baby Proofing, Residential, Safety

7 ways to childproof your home

7 ways to childproof your home

When you have children, you\’ll want to do everything you can to protect them. More than a third of injuries and deaths in children happen at home. It is easy for kids to accidentally get injured when they are playing or left unsupervised. To keep your kids as safe as possible, it\’s important to childproof your home. Here are seven of the most common household dangers and how to childproof them.

1. Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs

Young children can sneak out of your sight quickly if you lose focus for even a moment. They can drown in a pool or hot tub just as quickly. If your home has these enjoyable features, you should install a fence around them immediately. Make sure the latches for the gates are as high as possible to keep them out of reach of tiny hands.

2. Cribs

As unfortunate as it is, many infants die in their sleep due to unsafe sleeping conditions. To babyproof your baby\’s crib, make sure the mattress is flat and firm. You should not place any toys, blankets, or pillows in a crib with a baby. They can pose a suffocation hazard. Also, until your baby learns to roll over on their own, you should always put them to sleep on their back.

3. Harmful Substances

From cleaning products to medications to toiletries to alcohol, you\’ve likely got a lot of things in your home that are unsafe for children. Wherever possible, consolidate them into a single cupboard or drawer. This way, you only have to childproof those components rather than all of your cabinets. You can buy childproof drawer and cabinet closures at any baby products store.

4. Heavy Furniture

Kids are known for trying to climb just about anything. Unfortunately, that extra weight can cause taller items, like TVs and bookcases, to topple over, possibly crushing your child in the process. Be sure to secure any large or heavy furniture to a stud in the wall to prevent tipping. Many furniture manufacturers provide the necessary hardware along with each piece, so you likely already have everything you need to make them childproof.

5. Sharp Edges

Tables, chairs, and other furnishings can have sharp edges, and careening children can easily bump their heads. Apply foam padding to any corners or sharp edges to provide extra cushioning for little bodies. You can buy specialized foam coverings at baby supply stores, or you can go the DIY route to save a bit of money.

6. Stairs

As your little one starts to crawl, the stairs will become a lot of fun for them to play on. However, there is always the risk that they\’ll fall so this can be dangerous. To prevent this from happening, install gates at the top and bottom of your stairs. This way, your baby can only use them under your supervision.

7. Electrical Outlets

As kids explore, they often want to stick pens, forks, and other narrow items into electrical outlets. This can expose them to the risk of electric shock. You can childproof your outlets with tamper resistant outlets. Contact a licensed professional electrician to learn more.

Always Be Vigilant around Your Kids

It is important to note that no childproofing method is 100-percent effective; you\’ll still need to supervise your kids at all times. However, the steps you take to make your home safe can go a long way towards protecting your children. If you are concerned about the electrical safety of your home, the experts at Turn It On Electric will be happy to help. Reach out to us today for an appointment.

Categories Baby Proofing

So, you\’re ready to start baby proofing

So, you're ready to start baby proofing

The first time your baby rolls over is a major milestone. From there, it won\’t be long until they\’re crawling and getting into everything! By this point, you\’re probably thinking about baby proofing. There\’s no shortage of baby proofing supplies available at any big box store, but before you check out remember to consider the dangers of electricity.

Luckily, there are many ways to baby proof your home when it comes to electricity. These are just a few of the options you can consider.

Tamper-Resistant Receptacles

Since 2008, the National Electrical Code requires tamper-resistant receptacles in new or renovated homes. The receptacles have spring-loaded shutters that remain closed when nothing is plugged into the outlet. Both springs must have pressure on them at the same time or they won\’t open. This can help prevent injuries if a child is trying to insert something, like a paperclip, into one of the openings. Injuries can occur if a child puts something in both openings simultaneously.

If your home was built before 2008, an electrician can install tamper-resistant receptacles.

Baby Proofing Outlet Plug Caps

If you want a cheap way to baby proof your electrical outlets, baby proofing outlet plug caps are an option. They are made of hard plastic and plug into the vertical slots of your outlets. The front part of the cap is flat, making it difficult for your baby to grasp and pull.

Although this is an inexpensive option, there are downfalls. Over time, outlet plug caps can become worn out and fit more loosely in the outlet. This makes them easier for children to remove. Forgetting to replace the cap after you use the outlet can create an opportunity for danger as well. Children are great mimickers and watch everything you do. It doesn\’t take long for a young child to watch you pull out an outlet plug cap and repeat the action.

Electrical Outlet Cover Safe Plates

Electrical outlet cover safe plates sit over your existing outlets. Safe plates are spring loaded. To use the outlet, simply take the prongs of the plug and slide them across the plate to open the cover and plug in your cord. Swapping out your outlet cover is an easy DIY fix.

This option provides a more sturdy and permanent solution than outlet plug caps. Over time, the cover will continue to hold up no matter how many times you use the outlet. Additionally, the spring will continue to automatically close whenever you unplug something, so you don\’t need to worry about remembering to replace the outlet plug cap.

Similarly to the outlet plug cap, children can watch and repeat how you use a safe plate. While it does take some coordination to slide and plug, a determined child will be able to figure it out eventually.

How to Stop Your Baby from Unplugging Cords

Dangling cords can be a big temptation to a baby learning to crawl. The danger is endless – they could get tangled in the cord, chew on it, or even unplug it and risk a shock. Hiding cords and wires is an essential part of baby proofing your home. While you could move furniture in front of your electrical outlets to hide the plugs, there is another option.

Outlet covers are box-like structures that sit over your existing outlets. The enclosure has small openings on the side for your cords to run through. In addition to preventing your children from unplugging your devices, it may remove some of the temptation to stick something in an exposed outlet.

Power Strip Protection

Power strips are a common issue when it comes to baby proofing your home. Anything within arm\’s reach is fair game to your new crawler. The danger of an exposed outlet is amplified when it\’s placed on the floor in the form of a power strip. Imagine it from a baby\’s perspective – more holes, more cords, a button, and even a light. A power strip cover sits over the cords and has cutouts for them to run out. This can help prevent little hands from unplugging tempting cords.

While there are many other baby proofing options on the market, these are some of the more affordable and accessible choices. While all of these can help reduce the risk of electrical danger, the only way to fully protect your child is with close supervision.

If you\’re ready to install new tamper-resistant receptacle outlets or need any other help with your electrical system, contact Turn It On Electric today.