Safety for teenagers
Most parents won’t consider the morning rush before school a life-threatening experience for their teenage children. But, in hurrying to get ready for school, many teenagers could be living dangerously, putting theirs and their family’s safety at risk without even realising it.
How many times does your child risk their life before school?
Most parents won’t consider the morning rush before school a life-threatening experience for their teenage children. But, in hurrying to get ready for school, many teenagers could be living dangerously, putting theirs and their family’s safety at risk without even realising it. With around 30 deaths and thousands of injuries caused by electrical accidents in the home every year1, the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) asks parents: how many times does your teenage child risk their life before school?
Be honest, have you ever seen your teenager…
• put the knife in the toaster whilst it’s still switched on
• turn light switches on or off with wet hands
• leave hair straighteners or curling tongs switched on and unattended
• use a hairdryer or mains powered radio in the bathroom
• fill an iron or kettle up with water when it’s still plugged in
• wrap cables around warm appliances such as an iron or hair straighteners
• place drinks or liquids close to electrical appliances
If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above, then your child is running the risk of electric shock, fire and even death by electrocution.
In its bid to make teenagers more aware of the dangers surrounding electricity and how to stay safe, the Electrical Safety Council is launching a new website for 11-16 year olds - www.twothirtyvolts.org.uk. It will offer advice and tips, along with competitions, career information, essential first aid advice on what to do in an emergency and study aids.
We tend to forget that using everyday electrical household items, like hairdryers, kettles, toasters and radios, can be dangerous if treated without respect. All it takes is one careless mistake, which could result in electric shock, or worse.
Water and electricity are a lethal combination, so bathrooms and kitchens can be a high risk zone, particularly if your teenager is rushing around before school in the morning. Bringing mains-powered appliances, such as hairdryers, speakers, radios, or game consoles, into a bathroom and using electrical equipment or switches whilst still wet from the shower is dangerous, so make sure your children understand the risks.
Bedrooms are also buzzing with potential hazards. Leaving appliances, such as laptops, mobile phones, games consoles and TVs, on charge or standby while at school can present serious dangers. Left for a long period of time, they can overheat and cause a fire. Hair straighteners should also be switched off and unplugged when not in use, and make sure your teens don’t wrap the cable around them whilst they are still hot, to reduce the risk of fire.