Anyone with young children knows how curious they can be and want to protect them. The baby and toddler care market is enormous worth around 158 billion annually in the UK.
Clever marketers play on emotions to sell their products, one of which is fear.
No one wants their child to get hurt around the home so what better way to protect them with stair gates, window guards, corner protectors, baby monitors, cabinet locks and childproof plug sockets.
Now all these are excellent products that will go a long way in keeping your small children safe. Feel free to invest in these products, except for the childproof plug sockets.
Child Proof Plug Socket Covers are unnessecary and potentially dangerous.
What Is A Child Proof Plug Socket Cover?
A childproof plug socket is a plastic cap with three pins, the same length and shape as regular plug pins. These plugin to a plug socket and are difficult to remove.
The idea is to prevent children from sticking their fingers or objects into the socket or plugging in any appliances. An iron or kettle could burn a child, for example, if they attempted to plug-in and switch on.
Why are Child Proof Plug Socket Covers Unnecessary?
The three-pin UK plug is probably the safest design on the planet. Our plugs and sockets are safer than those used in mainland Europe and the united states.
UK sockets incorporate safety shutters which prevent objects and fingers being inserted.
The Electric Safety Council have confirmed there’s no evidence to suggest that there’s any danger from sockets that would require the use of socket covers.
Why are Child Proof Plug Socket Covers Potentially Dangerous?
An independent report by ‘which’ showed that child-proof plug covers could be inserted upside down opening up the safety shutters on a wall socket leaving the live elements exposed which is a potential electrocution risk.
Should I Bother With Child Proof Plug Socket Covers?
No, Plug sockets are extremely safe it’s very difficult if not impossible for a child to get little fingers or objects past the safety covers and onto the live elements of a plug socket.
The covers are at best, unnecessary and at worst, a potential danger. Don’t buy them and if you already have them retire them.
So How Do I Keep My Children Safe From Electricity?
- Follow these simple steps, and you can rest assured your children are safe from electrical dangers around the home.
- Make sure all your plug sockets are securely attached to the wall with firmly screwed in faceplates (no gaps between the faceplate and backbox)
- Keep plugin appliances out of reach of children at all times, when not in use pack away in a safe place.
- Ensure the cords and plugs of your appliances are in good condition and not damaged.
- As an extra safety precaution, you can buy socket covers that fit around and cover the whole socket and plug. Or you can install electrical sockets with built-in covers (always use a qualified Electrician)