The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-08-10
Prayed CORD IS
DANGEROUS To
CHILDREN
Child Badly Burned Playing
With One-Poor Economy
to Use Them
By SALLY E. DAVIDSON


recently told how little year-and- a
half old baby seriously burned his
mouth by chewing an electric iron
cord, Apparently the little fellow
managed to find cord which,
while disconnected from the iron,
was. still plugged" into the wall
outlet and baby-like began to cEeW
it.
The newspaper item blamed the
accident upon the thinness of the
cords insulation. This, it stated,
was so thin that the saliva Of the
baby's mouth quickly reached the
wires inside it. causing short
circuit. What this newspaper story
did not mention was that for such
a thing to happen, the insulation of
the electric iron cord must have
been worn or frayed. Therefore,
am citing this unhappy event to
stress the Importance of giving all
electric appliance cords proper care.
Such Play Forbidden
Or course no child should be
permitted to play with electric ap-
pliance cords while connected or
at any other time. Yet I serious.
" doubt if there could be any
trouble unless the cord is badly
worn. Using such cords when
worn or frayed is really poor
economy, for sooner or later they
will short-circuit and fuses will be
blown out. The best and easiest
way is to discard any appliance
cord just as soon as its outer COW
ering begins to raveI or otherwise
show signs of wear. Appliance
cords are inexpensive and it is
much wiser to replace them.
The reason that, in some house.
holds, appliance cords last but a
comparatively short time Is that
they are not properly cared for
Many housewives think that it is
cord into tight little coil and put
1t loosely into drawer with
kitchen knives and forks or other
sharp implements. In time these
will cut the cords outer covering
perhaps only slightly but enough
to start a break which will de-
velop into decidedly frayed spot.
On the other hand, where an APP
pliance cord is permitted to be-
come kinked or knotted it will evan
tually become so twisted that the
fine copper wires carrying the cleo
tricity will break, work their way
through the insulation and. in tiTne,-
cause trouble
But, to come back to children
and electric appliance cords. 1t is
well to teach your children 10 have
the same wholesome respect tor
electric appliances and cords IS
for razors knives. scissors, matches
and fire. If one will start when a
child begins to creep it will not
be long before the little fellow has
learned to leave all this category
alone and many anxious hours will
be obviated.
Proper Care OF Cords
Although many people wind the
cord around the base of an electric
appliance it is not a good practice
and will shorten the life of the
cord. Nor should a corl lie kept
in drawer with sharp implements.
The best way is to hang II Gp. /
have found double wardrobe hooks
most convenient for this USE Thew
have an opening which Is Just
large enough to allow the appliance
end of the cord to pass through
but small enough to retain the
plug" end. In this manner the
cord hangs vertically from the hook
and cannot kink or knot. / have
had row of these hooks put in
my kitchen closet. Here keep
the cords of all my ale strie sppli-
ances used in table cookery.
If space to do this is lacking and
the cords must be hung up coileti
or Iooped. thick wooden pegs or the
wide variety of wardrobe hooks will
prove satisfactory Either pegs or
hooks should, however, be broad
CROUCH so that when cords are
hung upon them the cords will not
develop kinks. This will happen
when they are hung upon nails or
other slender projections.
BY caring for electric appliance
cords in the manner I have sug.
Gested they will not only last a
long time but this method will
enable you in a measure to main
tain order and system in your
kitchen. without which no kitchen
can run smoothly.