As the parent of a baby, your priority is ensuring they are safe. One of the primary things you want to pay attention to is all the electrical appliances around your Waldorf, MD area home. Consider which appliances pose a hazard, and follow these four tips for maximizing your home’s safety. Then head to Lowe’s or Home Depot on Crain Highway to get most of the supplies you’ll need.
Appliances to Consider
When thinking about baby proofing your appliances, you may think of the stove or maybe the refrigerator. However, there’s a host of appliances to consider, then some general guidelines for making them safer. These appliances may include:
- Range and ovens
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Washer and dryer
- Dishwasher
- Coffee maker
- Toaster
- Mixer
- Blender
- Microwave oven
- Toaster oven
- Juicer
Secure Doors
Many of your major appliances have a door, which can itself pose a hazard to your kids. They can easily open the doors and get caught inside or pull something out that can hurt them. The best way to prevent this is to secure the door with an appropriate strap or locking mechanism. Be sure the device you pick up is intended for the particular appliance so that it is resilient against heat or cold and the strain the mechanism will endure.
Consider Cables
Most of your appliances have electrical cables to allow them to work. However, these cables can be unruly and pose a significant hazard to little ones. Kids can get caught up in long cables, posing a strangulation hazard. They can also use the cable to pull countertop appliances on top of themselves.
Keep your cables up and out of reach. Use a cable tie to help manage multiple cables in a close space.
Guard Against Burns
Burns are an especially critical hazard for appliances in the kitchen. Not only are the stove and oven hot, but so are the dishes when the dishwasher first stops completing its cycle.
The best way to protect against burns is to create a physical barrier to any open heat source. For closed heat sources, make sure to use locks whenever possible to keep the doors closed while heat is present. When using a countertop cooker, like a slow cooker or a pressure cooker, push it back as far as possible to keep it out of reach.
Ensure You Have the Right Outlets
Most electrical appliances are found in either the kitchen, laundry or utility room, or the bathroom. All of these places also have water running to them, which can pose hazards for shorts.
When an electrical appliance experiences a short because there is water where it shouldn’t be, it may cause a significant shock, especially for little children. The best way to prevent this is to ensure all of your appliances are plugged into GFCI outlets. These special outlets have an extra safety feature that interrupts the electrical flow when it senses a ground fault, like what water causes.
Be sure your home’s electric appliances are safe for your children. Call to schedule an appointment with the expert electricians at Circuit Doctor to evaluate and upgrade your home’s outlets today.
