If you've recently become a proud parent it's not too late to think about hazards around your home. Before you know it your gurgling bundle of joy will be making his or her way around your home poking and prodding everything with their unbridled curiosity. For example, household chemicals and cleaning products you usually keep under the sink need to be moved far out of the reach of prying hands or securely locked away. Accidental injury is the biggest killer of children, above disease and stranger danger.

As you take a look around your home don't forget the one thing we all take for granted - electricity. We use on a daily basis and it's very rare that we consider how dangerous it is. Even a tiny amount, in the wrong hands, can be fatal. Did you realise, for example, that the electricity that powers one 7.5 watt Xmas tree light bulb is enough to be fatal, after only one second, when passed through the chest. With that in mind we thought we'd share some thoughts on electrical protection measures with your toddler's protection being the ultimate goal.

MAXIMISE THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILDREN WITH THESE SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS

Education is of course the most effective tool. But the idea of danger is difficult to instil when your beloved offspring has only just learnt to walk. But that doesn't mean there's no way to reduce the risk of injury. There are some simple and inexpensive solutions available on the market and some that are just plain common sense. So read on and then pop down to your local high street and get your home ready for those inquisitive fingers.

• Tamper proof outlets- keeps tiny fingers out of unused outlets with an internal barrier. It only allows the correct kind of plug to be inserted and not pencils, wires or other foreign objects.
• Child-resistant wall plates - these fit over the standard socket for added protection when they're not in use. It's a spring loaded device that's difficult for a child to open.
• Socket covers - this is the easiest way to stop your child putting their fingers or other objects into unused sockets.
• Switch locks - fit these over your wall switches to stop those little tike's from constantly switching the lights on and off.
• Extender wall plates - these allow access to switches that are out of a child's normal reach.
• Night lights - not just used to keep the boogie man at bay but they're also a reassuring guide in the dark. They come in a wide variety of styles from dinosaur shapes to stars and the moon and they're safe and kid-friendly.
• Extension leads - these are a definite no no in any child's room or where they will be left unsupervised. As well as a trip hazard they can be put in a young child's mouth and likely cause electrocution.

We hope we've given you some ideas on how to protect a small child from electrical hazards. The important thing is to not let down your guard and become complacent. Supervise your child as much as you can as the best defence against any kind of hazard is a loving, caring and attentive parent or guardian. If you don't have the time to do these improvements yourself, find a capabale electrician in your area.