3 electrical dangers you need to know about

You do everything you can to keep your little one safe outside, but experts warn of surprising risks related to electricity. Here, the hidden dangers and smart strategies that will keep your child out of harm’s way

Swimming off a dock

Splashing around near docks can be downright dangerous because of a risk of electric-shock drowning, which occurs when a dock leaks power and electrifies the water, warns Brett Brenner, president of the Electrical Safety Foundation International. “If someone is in the water, the current can flow through them and cause muscle paralysis, which can result in drowning.” Because there are no visible signs of electrified water, have kids swim at least 50 yards from electrically powered docks and tell them if they feel a tingling sensation to quickly swim to where they were pre-tingle. If you suspect your child has been shocked, shut off the electricity. “Don’t enter the water or touch a metal ladder in the water, or you’ll be shocked too,” cautions Brenner. Instead, Joyce Li, M.D., an emergency medicine specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital, advises throwing a life ring to your child and calling 9-1-1.

Climbing these trees

Kids love to climb, but it’s imperative that they resist the urge to monkey up a utility pole or trees near power lines, which can deliver a shock even if the child doesn’t touch them. “High-voltage electricity can jump to anyone who gets too close, so we all need to stay at least 10 feet away from overhead lines,” says Brenner. Electricity can also jump to kites and other toys that get stuck in power lines. “Don’t touch them—not even the kite string,” says Brenner. If a shock does occur and your child stops breathing, begin CPR. But Dr. Li warns, “Make sure your child is no longer in contact with the power line because the current may pass through you too.”

10 minutes before the storm

Not all lightning risks come with rain. “Most people get struck by lightning before rain arrives or after it’s gone because they’re not aware that lightning may strike as far as 10 miles from any rainfall,” says John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist at the National Weather Service. To keep kids safe, tell them to go inside a fully enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle with the windows shut at the first sound of thunder. No shelter nearby? Teach them the “lightning crouch:” Huddle in a ball-like position, feet and knees together, head tucked, hands over ears. “Lightning can still enter the body in this position, but keeping your feet together reduces the amount of ground current that’s likely to pass through your body,” says Jensenius. If your child does get struck, don’t hesitate to go to her aid. “Lightning victims don’t carry an electrical charge, so it’s safe—and important—to start medical attention immediately,” says Dr. Li. If possible, take your child to a safe place and call 9-1-1 for immediate advice.