Uncovered, unsafe sockets and exposed, damaged wires are two of the biggest hazards in the home that can cause a child to suffer an electric shock. Children are also interested in smart devices and are their chargers, so you should not leave such devices plugged into sockets out of reach of children.
A child in Latvia has been electrocuted after putting the cord of a phone charger plugged into a socket in his mouth.
Sadales tīkls stresses that while adults are responsible for their own safety, it is the responsibility of parents to protect young children from electrical hazards at home.
"One of the most common mistakes is the lack of special socket protection devices in the home. Young children often try to insert small objects into sockets, which can cause serious injuries. Therefore, even before the baby starts crawling, it would be important to check the sockets to make sure they are safe, as well as all the wires to make sure they are not damaged and freely accessible to the child," explains Katrīna Selecka, pediatrician at the children's clinic "Rabarbers".
Artūrs Šmats, Head of Electrical Training at the Training Centre of "Sadales tīkls", points out that it is important to unplug appliances and wires correctly to avoid damage that can occur unnoticed.
"That means holding the socket with one hand and unplugging the appliance with the other, holding the plug instead of pulling on the cord. These are seemingly obvious things, but in our daily rush, we may not pay enough attention," advises Šmats.
Pediatrician Selecka explains that babies can be dangerously injured by touching electrical appliances with wet hands: 'When exposed to electricity, muscles contract, making it difficult to pull your hands away from the source of the current, and you may lose consciousness, have breathing and heart problems. I worked for many years at the Children's Clinical University Hospital (BKUS) and I know that even the most seemingly innocuous electrical injury, such as a minor burn, can turn out to be very serious. It is therefore imperative to seek medical advice if such an incident occurs."
What should I do if someone's electrocuted?
- Switch off the electricity! If the injury occurs indoors, the first step is to switch off the electricity immediately. This can be done by switching off the main fuse or pulling the plug from the socket. It is very important to know where this primary electrical safety switch is located in the home.
- Don't become a victim yourself! If the power is not switched off before the victim is helped, the rescuer may be injured (become part of an electrical circuit). Only after the electricity has been switched off can you touch the injured and call the Emergency Medical Service (113).
- If possible, give first aid! If the person has lost consciousness, first aid should be given if possible after the ambulance has been called and before the paramedics arrive.
