On Sun, 2006-04-23 at 13:19 +0100, Howard Winter wrote:
> Timothy,
> 
> On Sat, 22 Apr 2006 20:15:08 -0400, Timothy Weber wrote:
> 
> >...
> > I did notice when she had a screwdriver and was finding 
> > screws to push it onto - she was perilously close to some live AC 
> > outlets, so I put a stop to that and reminded her not to get near them 
> > because they're very, very hot.
> 
> It still faintly astounds me that US mains sockets are completely unprotected - they're such an obvious place 
> for screwdrivers in little hands, 

Very few screwdrivers most people own are small and long enough to get
into the danger are. However, there are MANY other things in a home
which are.

> that there must be a number of tragedies each year.  

I've never heard a statistic, but I'm sure there are. 

> I realise that 110V is 
> less dangerous than 240, but it can still be fatal.  In a country that does so much to protect its children 
> (school busses, for example) this seems a curious omission.  Are shielded outlets even available as an option?

Yes, but usually as a cover on the outlet.

I was very impressed with where Europe is on this issue these days.
Every extension cord I could find had a built in mechanism that blocked
the holes unless two pins were trying to get in. Very neat. I'm assuming
that's also part of the building code over there?

Generally most people over here, who have small children, plug covers
into unused outlets. They stick in there pretty tightly and I'm sure
they help. However, this will do nothing to prevent a child from pulling
a cord out of an outlet and then sticking something in. The fact that
our outlets aren't recessed make things even worse since a plug can be
part ways out of an outlet and yet still be in electrical contact.

Also, I'm not sure of all of Europe, but I know in some places houses,
as part of the code, have a house wide GFCI, I'd imagine that helps
reduce the chance of anyone dieing from electrocution. Is a house wide
GFCI common in all of Europe?

Thanks, TTYL 

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