NICEIC OFFERS GUIDANCE ON KEEPING BRITIAIN’S SWITCHED-ON KIDS SAFE THIS CHILD SAFETY WEEK

With Child Safety Week just around the corner, NICEIC is reminding parents that – especially with many children continuing to remain homebound during the UK’s ongoing lockdown – it is vital to have adequate measures in place to ensure electrical safety in the home.

As the digital takeover of recent years has seen a sharp increase in the amount of electrical appliances used in the average home – studies have shown that today’s children are increasingly abandoning traditional soft toys, games and books in favour of tech. According to research¹ pre-schoolers now become better acquainted with digital devices before even books, while estimates² suggest that that 52% of 3-4 year-olds and 82% of 5-7 year olds are online.

However, with increased exposure to electrical equipment in the home inherently comes a greater safety risk if not managed correctly, particularly as many children continue to stay at home – an issue which NICEIC is keen to raise during Child Safety Week.

Running from 1^st to 7^th June (2020), the important annual week-long campaign run by the Child Accident Prevention Trust has been designed to highlight the risks of child accidents and how they can be prevented.

Darren Staniforth, NICEIC’s Senior Technical Presenter, said: “There is no debating the transformative effect that technology continues to have on the way we live and operate in our daily lives. In the home this is seen in an increased use of all sorts of smart devices, gadgets and ‘electric toys’ – and not just by adults but by children too.

“With this does, however, come increased safety concerns. We must remember, after all, that electrics are incredibly powerful and potential dangerous, and must be handled correctly, especially considering the increased use of electrical devices by children”.

“This becomes even more pertinent given the current situation when many children are remaining at home for the foreseeable period and being home-schooled using tablets and computers, or having extra time to play with their ‘electric toys’ while their parents work at home.”

According to a recent study³, over half (53%) of parents are concerned that their children are exposed to too much screen time on their beloved tablets and phones during the current lockdown. At the same time, Electrical Safety First estimates that 79% of children have taken risks with electricity.

Darren adds: “In terms of using electrical equipment in the home safely, it’s about taking sensible precautions; for example, keeping electrical cords out of reach, keeping appliances off when not in use and never leaving a child unattended when using a device still connected to the mains. Also, obviously water and electrics don’t mix; so all drinks should be kept firmly out of reach of electrical and paddling pools should be placed in a completely electric-free location, and children dried thoroughly after use before being exposed to any nearby devices”.

“Crucially, it’s also important to note that any electrical work in the home should be conducted by a qualified, certified professional, such as those listed with the NICEIC, as even the seemingly simplest of jobs can be incredibly dangerous if not installed properly”.

NICEIC has launched a video on electrical safety for children to be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw31haNcmWo You can search for a registered electrician in your area by visiting www.niceic.com