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Electricity Safety and Practice

Electricity is useful, but it must be respected.

For children, the best rule is:

Look, learn, and ask an adult. Do not experiment with wall electricity.


SituationSafe or unsafe?Why
Switching on a room light with dry handsUsually safeA switch is made for touching
Putting a pencil into a socketUnsafeSockets can give dangerous shocks
Touching a broken wireUnsafeElectricity may pass through the body
Using a charger with a torn wireUnsafeThe wire may be dangerous
Looking at a battery with an adultSafeYou are only observing
Opening a cellUnsafeChemicals inside can hurt
Touching a switch with wet handsUnsafeWater can help electricity travel

  1. Never put fingers or objects into sockets.
  2. Never touch broken wires.
  3. Never touch electrical things with wet hands.
  4. Keep water away from plugs, chargers, and appliances.
  5. Ask an adult before plugging in or unplugging devices.
  6. Do not open cells, batteries, chargers, or appliances.
  7. Tell an adult if you see sparks, smoke, burning smell, or a broken plug.
  8. Use batteries only with adult help.

Why Water and Electricity Are Dangerous Together

Section titled “Why Water and Electricity Are Dangerous Together”

Water can help electricity move.

Our body has water inside too.

If electricity passes through the body, it can hurt us badly.

That is why we keep wet hands, wet floors, and water bottles away from sockets and appliances.

Examples:

  • Do not touch a switch just after washing hands.
  • Do not keep a plugged-in charger near a water glass.
  • Do not use electrical devices in the bathroom.

Walk around one room with an adult.

Make a list:

DeviceNeeds electricity?SourceWhat it makes
LampYeswall socketlight
ClockYescellmovement
BookNononeno electricity
FanYeswall socketmotion

Ask:

  1. Does it use a cell, battery, charger, or plug?
  2. Does it make light, heat, sound, motion, or information?
  3. Is it safe for a child to touch?

Look at a switchboard with an adult.

Do not open it.

Just observe:

  • switches turn devices on and off
  • each switch controls a circuit
  • when the switch is off, the path is open
  • when the switch is on, the path is closed

Practice saying:

ON means closed circuit.
OFF means open circuit.

With an adult, look at a remote or clock.

Find:

  • the cell size, like AA or AAA
  • the + and - signs
  • how many cells it uses
  • which way the cells face

Put everything back safely.

Never open a cell.


DeviceElectricity becomes
Bulblight
Ironheat
Fanmotion
Doorbellsound
Tabletlight, sound, and information
Mixermotion
Heaterheat

  1. What is electricity?
  2. What is electric current?
  3. What is a circuit?
  4. What does a switch do?
  5. What is a cell?
  6. What is a battery?
  7. What is DC current?
  8. What is AC current?
  9. What does a charger do for a phone?
  10. Why should we keep water away from electrical devices?

  1. A complete path for electricity is called a ___.
  2. A cell has a plus end and a ___ end.
  3. A battery-powered torch uses ___ current.
  4. A wall socket gives ___ current.
  5. A fan changes electricity into ___.
  6. A bulb changes electricity into ___.
  7. We should not touch switches with ___ hands.

Answers:

  1. circuit
  2. minus
  3. DC
  4. AC
  5. motion
  6. light
  7. wet

  • Electricity is energy that can make devices work.
  • A circuit is a complete path.
  • A cell or battery can give DC current.
  • A wall socket gives AC current.
  • Chargers can change AC to DC.
  • Electricity is helpful, but safety comes first.