We as parents and adults tend to overlook small matters that could cause tragedy with our children. How many electrical devices do you have around the house? And how many of those could be in easy reach of your small child? Probably a lot more than you expect. Several small or larger electrical items could be within a curious toddlers grasp. And several of those could cause problems.

Recently I purchased a portable printer and scanner for my home office. It was one of those multipurpose laser printers that was on sale at Staples. I brought it home, set up on a small footstool by my desk, and went out to get a drink. When I came back, my two-year-old Josh was busy trying to pry the printer/scanner combo open. I stopped and scolded him and then afterwards set the machine up on my desk.

Portable printers and scanners, although useful have some dangers for a young child. Inside is a high voltage power supply that could hurt a child severely. As well as the fact that some parts can get very hot when printing a lot of papers. So an overly curious child could easily hurt itself, maybe seriously with something we don’t think much of.

There are some simple steps we all can take to help protect your child.

Move all electrical items above babies “grab range”. If it’s an electrical appliance, put it above baby grab range. If it’s easily accessible then there is a greater chance of danger.

Unplug the electrical items when not in use. Hair Dryers, electric razor and other items can be unplugged when not in use. If they are not connected, there is no danger of shock.

Get outlet covers and ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) equipped outlets. Outlet covers protect baby from shocks. GFCI outlets are circuit breaker equipped to add security in wet areas such as the bathroom.
Look out for frayed cable and wiring that your child could grab. Wiring when it gets old can get frayed or worn, exposing bare metal that your child could touch. Keep a lookout and replace any old wiring with new.

In my case with my portable printer and scanner I put it on top of my four-door filing cabinet and make sure it’s unplugged when not in use. Simple steps can protect your child from getting painful electric shocks and give you peace of mind.