FACT: In toddlers – but also children up to 14 years of age – approximately a quarter of all choking accidents in recent years have been due to strangulation.*
Cables should be kept away from babies and toddlers not only because of the electrical current and the potential effects of saliva on the charging contact. Our plug protector, also known as a charging cable safety device, can prevent access to the charging contact. However, parents should never forget the strangulation hazard posed by long cables. For this reason, we strongly recommend using short charging cables in households with babies and toddlers.
Here's an overview of the advantages of short charging cables:
- No risk of strangulation
- Avoiding cable clutter
- Practical for power banks, docking stations and workplaces
- Compact travel format, ideal for on the go or in the car
Those who prefer the convenience of three-meter-long cables, allowing them to use their phones while charging even in the furthest corner of the couch, might not immediately embrace the idea of short charging cables. However, anyone who seriously considers the potential dangers of charging cables should definitely switch to shorter cables and adjust their routines accordingly, especially in households with babies and toddlers, in addition to ensuring the electrical connections are safe. And as long as the cables are within children's reach, this danger persists, even if you hide the cable behind cushions, for example.
We asked specific questions – here are the results of our survey:
We interviewed approximately 30 men and 70 women aged 24 to 41 years, of whom 69% were pregnant and/or had children aged 0 to 3 years at home.
All respondents leave charging cables plugged into wall sockets, either always or at least frequently. This is also related to the location of the sockets (often near the floor), and even when devices are placed up high, children can still reach the cables and pull the device down or unplug it. 93% of respondents have concerns about leaving cables plugged into sockets in rooms accessible to children. 7% have situational concerns. 95% stated that they had never considered the possibility of children strangling themselves on the cables.
Besides the dangers of falls and suffocation, the risk of strangulation is among the greatest dangers for small children. It is not without reason that first aid courses for babies and toddlers typically always point out this danger.
For this reason, we strongly recommend using short charging cables in the home, as in most cases the cables are not always put away in a way that makes them inaccessible to children.
This is an important issue for us, which we have also taken into account in our product range in the shop. Because it's not just the charging contacts that pose a risk, but the cables themselves!
