What steps can I take to make electrical cords safer around small children?

A favorite target of babies and toddlers are power cords, which they are apt to place in their mouth and chew. Consequently, parents should replace a worn or frayed electrical cord with one having an appropriate length. An even better idea is to keep young children away from cords altogether, since a child can actually choke on as little as 12 inches of cord. Children also love to tug on loose electrical cords. As a result, they can knock over a lamp, appliance or telephone, and injure themselves in the process. To prevent these types of accidents, keep all cords out of the reach of small hands. Don't run extension cords under carpets or rugs, because walking on cords could break the insulation and possibly cause a fire.