National Post (National Edition)
Keep electrical safety at the top of your to-do list
“People need to be reminded to think about electrical safety rather than simply taking it for granted”
Sasha Exeter had a rude awakening when her twoyear-old daughter Maxwell suffered an electrical shock at home.
“I turned around to check on breakfast, and in a matter of two seconds, I heard a massive loud pop followed by a bit of smoke, then a scream, and then the smell of burning skin,” says the Torontobased freelance writer and founder of SoSasha.com. “I ran over to discover she had put a bobby pin in an electrical outlet on the kitchen island.”
The trip to her local emergency room was even more harrowing. “She was screaming uncontrollably the whole way there. It was pretty traumatic. Her skin started to rise and bubble, and her hand was extremely hot for hours.”
Exeter quickly learned that electrical shocks can do more damage than burning the skin. “I hadn’t known too much about electrical injuries and was more worried about how her hand would heal. It never occurred to me other things could happen.”
While there, Maxwell had to undergo a series of tests for damage to her muscles and heart. Luckily, she hadn’t suffered any serious side effects. But Exeter realized that she could do more by educating others about the potential long-term effects of electrical shock, which can include heart and muscle damage, anxiety, chronic pain and memory loss.
“Even though Maxwell was okay, it made me realize there is no such thing as a safe shock. You are not exempt from something like this happening. So, I talked about it to anyone who would listen to me. I thought, even if I am able to help one other family or their child, I did my job.”
Figuring there was a small chance someone else would have had a similar experience, she also posted her story on social media. To her surprise, hundreds of families contacted her. “I was surprised by how many people had experienced a similar situation themselves, with their own children, or a family member.”
Electrical safety is often not top of mind for busy families. But in these days of self-isolation, parents need to be even more vigilant, says Dr. Joel Moody chief public safety officer with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), which is mandated by the Ontario government to improve public electrical safety.
“Right now, there are more kids and parents at home plugging and unplugging equipment. People need to be reminded to think about electrical safety rather than simply taking it for granted,” he says.
Each year, up to 110 kids ages 15 and under in Ontario end up going to a hospital for electrical injuries, many of who are five and younger. “Until we can get that to zero, there is still work to be done,” he says.
Practicing electrical safety doesn’t have to be complicated. For example, it only takes a few minutes to check for frayed or damaged electrical cords, Moody notes. “If they are frayed, don’t use them. Despite what you might think, tape won’t protect you from shock.”
He also recommends installing tamper-resistant receptacles. These devices
have a special shutter that covers plug slots to prevent fingers or objects from coming into contact with electricity.
“They can go a long way to prevent incidents from happening in the first place. If you have young kids, you should switch over all your receptacles to minimize risk. Also make sure you replace any missing or broken cover plates.”
Another common mistake is overloading extension cords and power bars, which can create a shock or fire hazard.
People should also avoid
fraudulent electrical products, Moody cautions. “There are a lot of counterfeit products out there that might not work properly and could be dangerous. Make sure when using an electrical product that it is approved and certified by the appropriate bodies and displays the approved product label.” ESA provides a list of recognized certification marks for electrical products on its website.
If you do suspect any electrical issues in your home, always make sure work is done by a Licensed Electrical Contractor,
Moody says. “If you have questions or concerns about work being done, ESA can help to ensure the work is compliant.”
Everyone can play a part in electrical safety at home, he adds. “All we ask is that people take it seriously. Electrical safety is a shared responsibility and we all have a role to play to keep each other safe from harm.”
For information on ESA, visit www.esasafe.com. For tips on how to keep kids safe from electrical shock, visit https://esasafe.com/safety/home-electricalsafety/home-safety/.
Even though Maxwell was okay, it made me realize there is no such thing as a safe shock. You are not exempt from something like this happening...” – Mother Sasha Exeter