Person inserting a child protection cover on a wall outlet in a residential home.
Electricity is a natural phenomena formed from charged particles, static buildup, or dynamic currents. People mistakenly put electricity, energy, and power together, but they are three independent words. Energy is the measurement of the strength, force, and capacity needed to do work. Power is the measurement of how fast you can do work versus the overall quantity of work necessary. Electricity powers your home.
Here’s how it gets to you:
Generation: Power plants have generators, and generators have turbines that need an outside source to power them. When the turbine rotates, power is generated. For example, the large windmills you see are generators, and the turbines need wind to power them. When windmill blades spin, energy is generated.
Transmission: Electricity that is generated at the power plant is delivered to neighbouring substations through transmission lines. These lines transmit high voltage electricity to the substations that prepare lower voltages for your residence.
Distribution: Once the electricity has reached the substations, it is converted to lower voltages for houses. The electricity exits the substation through power lines, then travels through a wired service line into your home.
Electrical Safety Indoors
There are unique electrical concerns inside of your home to make sure that your children are aware of. Some of the most typical threats are outlets, wires, domestic appliances, and water.
Outlets and Plugs
- Don’t stick your fingers, toys, or any other objects in electrical outlets or sockets;
- Don’t plug too many appliances into one outlet;
- Don’t handle light bulbs in lamps or light features;
- Don’t let children disconnect or plug something in without permission or supervision;
- Repair outlets and plugs that aren’t working.
Wires and Cords
- Don’t let children play with or chew on electrical cords — whether they are plugged in or unplugged;
- When you are unplugging a cord, unplug it at the base of the plug, not by yanking the cord;
- Don’t touch or plug in any cords that are damaged or have exposed wires;
- Repair or replace exposed wires and broken cords.
- Appliances sIf you are ever cleaning an appliance, make sure you unplug it;
- Don’t stick your fingers, toys, or any other objects inside household appliances — even if the appliance is off or not plugged in;
- Avoid using any equipment if you are wet or near water;
- Keep electric space heaters away from anything that are combustible like curtains, bedsheets, clothes, etc.
Water
By and large, water and electricity do not mix. Water is one of the best conductors, and when you touch water and electricity at the same moment, you become the electricity’s route to the ground. When this happens, you generally become stunned. Avoid stuff like:
- Bringing or storing beverages around electronics to avoid any potential spillage;
- Avoid using appliances near a sink, bathtub, shower, or any other source of water;
- Keep electrical wires and outlets away from sources of water;
- Avoid touching anything electrical – light switches, cords, appliances, outlets, etc. — when you are wet.
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