If your child was like mine, he was able to pull off the child-proof plugs from the electrical outlet! One study found that 100% of children ages 2 to 4 were able to remove the plastic caps in under 10 seconds. 

Plastic outlet caps are a cheap option but they can be pulled out by kids OR you forget to put them back on after vacuuming. 

Each year in Canada, over 1,000 children under the age of 14 are sent to emergency rooms as a result of electrical injuries. In 2009, an update was made to the Canadian electrical code requiring all new homes to have tamper-resistant receptacles (TRRs), designed to prevent children from inserting objects into outlets and getting a potentially fatal electrical shock. If you have renovated after this date then the electrician may have also replaced your outlets. To be certain, look for the letters “TR” engraved between the two vertical slots.

TRR is an outlet in which the electrical contact is essentially closed off by spring-loaded shutters. For the shutters to open, BOTH springs must be compressed at the same time, as they would when a plug is inserted. If only one side is compressed, the shutters remain closed.

If you have moved into a home built before 2009 and agree like most parents that it’s more than worth it to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your children will be safe, contact our licensed electricians to replace your outlets with tamper-resistant receptacles.

Call 403-250-9301 or submit your request online.