A full 95% of the accidents involving children that occur each year can be avoided. The key to safety is to take simple precautions and to look at the world through your child's eyes in order to anticipate and prevent possible hazards.

Guidelines
Cables and extension cords should never be hidden under rugs or sofas. Why? First of all, worn or overheated cables can cause a shortcircuit, and second, they are a source of great curiosity for young children who, by yanking on the cord, can bring the electric appliance crashing to the floor. Cables should be stapled to the wall and extension cords should be put away after use.

It is also a good idea to periodically check the colour and appearance of the cables and light sockets. If they've become darker or heat too quickly, the installation system probably doesn't work very well anymore. Change the cables and sockets as soon as you can.

To prevent children from introducing metal objects -scissors, etc.- into light sockets, you can buy special plastic plug protectors which are inserted into the socket, making it inaccessible to tiny fingers.

In the bedroom
If you use an electric blanket for chilly nights or for flu therapy, don't let your children use it unsupervised. Use the electric blanket only until the bed is warm and then unplug it.

In the case of especially active children who make it their job to inspect each and every new appliance, you may want to use a battery-operated night lamp on your bedside table instead of one with a cord. You'll get the same quality of light and eliminate potential fun and games with the cable.
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In the bathroom
The bathroom is one of the most dangerous places in the house, since water conducts energy. Teach your children to not go barefoot in the bathroom if they plan to use an electrical appliance such as a hairdryer, for example. If the appliance isn't working well and your child has wet hands or feet, he or she may get an electric shock.

If you use electric heaters or portable radiators to heat your bathroom, remove them when your children enter the room. A few drops of water are enough to cause a shortcircuit.

To best avoid minor accidents, teach your children that electrical appliances are not a toy and that they must ask a grownup for help whenever they use them.