Using Home Electrical Appliances - Some Safety Tips

There are some safety measures that you should take to reduce the chance of appliance-related accidents in your home or around the house. The following are general practices all appliance users need to follow related to major appliances.

Read the safety instructions in the appliance use and care manual.

Be sure appliances are properly installed and maintained.

Do an overall appliance safety check. Look for cords children might trip over, etc.

Destroy shipping cartons, plastic bags, metal bands and staples that children might use for play. Cartons covered with rugs, bedspreads or plastic sheets can become airtight chambers. Staples and metal bands can cause severe cuts.

If a major appliance is discarded, abandoned or not in use, remove the door or door latch mechanism to prevent accidental entrapment.

Do not let young children play in or on any major appliance.

THINK ABOUT CHILDREN BEFORE YOU BUY APPLIANCES

Handles and Controls -- Handles that allow use of the whole hand are easier for children, whose grips are weak, to use. This is also true for opening doors, drawers, and turning controls on appliances. Front or side controls are easier to use than those at the rear or on the back splash. Controls at the rear or on the back splash may be hard to reach by short children. To reach the controls the child may try something unsafe like climbing on the appliance.

Easy to Read Controls -- Controls that are easy to understand are a good choice. You should be able to see if the appliance is OFF or ON.

Easy to Read Directions -- Make sure directions for use are easy to read and follow. If the directions supplied by the manufacturer are hard to understand you might need to "write your own."

Easy to Clean -- Easy cleaning is important if children will be using the appliance. They should be taught routine maintenance and cleaning along with proper use of an appliance.