A very sad incident happened recently in Kannur, Kerala. A five-year-old boy lost his life after getting an electric shock from decorative LED lights at home. LED lights, which is almost in every household and considered safe, can be so dangerous. We cover the sockets and wires, but the LED was never in that list of danger.

Our homes may feel safe. But when you have small children around, you have to look for hidden dangers. Let’s get alert and make small changes to keep our children safe.

When Everyday Things Become Risky

When we do childproofing, we lock the kitchen or keep sharp objects away. But many times, we don’t realise the small things around the house can turn dangerous for children. Simple things like the phone charger plugged in by the bed or the glowing string of lights in the living room are things we tend to ignore.

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Common Household Hazards Parents Forget About

1. Decorative Lights

Fairy lights and LED strings look beautiful. But we don’t give attention to the old wires or poor-quality plugs as these can lead to shocks or even fires.

2. Open Plug Points

Children love to explore with their fingers and toys. An uncovered socket is a huge risk.

3. Chargers and Cords

Phone chargers left plugged in, or extension boards lying on the floor are easy for kids to pull or chew.

4. Water Near Electricity

Bathrooms, washing machines and even aquariums become dangerous if wiring is loose or wet.

5. Everyday Appliances

The daily appliances like iron or mixer we often tend to leave unplugged. They are easy for little hands to reach.

Why Kids Are More Vulnerable

Children don’t see danger the way adults do. In fact, the more we tell them not to touch, the more they want to explore. Their skin is sensitive, so shocks affect them more.

Also, they love putting things in their mouths, which makes cords and wires even riskier.

So what might only sting us can cause serious harm to them.

What Parents Can Learn From This

1. Nothing is fully safe. Anything that uses electricity can be dangerous.
2. We assume small items to be always harmless. Sometimes these lead to unexpected accidents. Extra care is needed with lights and decorations as they are reachable.

Prevention is always better than regret. Taking a few minutes to check things can save a life.

Simple Safety Tips for Every Home

1. Use socket covers on all plug points.
2. Keep wires and chargers in places where children can’t reach.
3. Always unplug the appliances that are not in use.
4. Check for damaged wires in decorative items before using them.
5. Don’t leave young kids alone around appliances.
6. Install circuit breakers if possible. They cut off power during accidents.

We can’t control everything in life. But we can make our homes safer with small and simple actions.