Change a Light Bulb Safely
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What you will learn
- 1Name electricity and heat as the two dangers when changing a bulb
- 2Switch off and unplug a lamp and let the bulb cool before touching it
- 3Match a new bulb to the old one by its fitting and type
- 4Change a lamp bulb in the right order with a grown-up
- 5Explain which bulb jobs are always a grown-up’s job
Mini Lesson
When a lamp stops working, the bulb has often just worn out. Changing it is a small job that grown-ups do all the time - and with a grown-up beside you, you can learn to do it too. There are two dangers to respect: electricity, which can give you an electric shock, and heat, because a bulb that was just on can burn your fingers. Follow the steps in order, every time, and the job is simple and safe.
🏠 The Life Skills Way (step by step)
- SWITCH OFF: turn the lamp off and unplug it from the wall outlet, so no electricity can reach the bulb.
- LET IT COOL: an old bulb can stay hot for a while after it was on. Wait until it is cool before you touch it.
- DRY HANDS: make sure your hands are completely dry. Water and electricity must never meet.
- STAND STEADY: never stand on a wobbly chair. If you need to reach, use a steady step stool with a grown-up holding it.
- TAKE IT OUT: hold the glass gently and unscrew it, or push in and twist it out - the way depends on the fitting.
- FIT AND TEST: fit the new bulb, plug the lamp back in, switch on, and check that it works.
💡 Choosing the Right Bulb
- MATCH THE OLD ONE: the fitting and the type are written on the old bulb. Take it with you and pick a new one that matches.
- SCREW-IN FITTING: the bulb has a spiral thread at the bottom and turns round and round to go in and out.
- PUSH-AND-TWIST FITTING: the bulb has little pins. You push it in gently and twist it to lock or unlock it.
- LED BULBS: LED bulbs use less energy than old-style bulbs and stay much cooler, but still let any bulb cool first.
This is an adult lesson - a grown-up is beside you the whole time. Always switch off and unplug first, and never touch a bulb with wet hands. NEVER put your fingers or anything else into an empty bulb socket. A broken bulb and any ceiling light are a grown-up’s job only - step away and call an adult.
Words to know
bulb
The part of a lamp or light that glows when electricity flows through it.
socket
The holder the bulb fits into. Never put fingers or objects into an empty socket.
fitting
The shape of a bulb’s base - for example screw-in or push-and-twist.
LED
A kind of bulb that uses less energy and stays cooler than old-style bulbs.
unplug
Pull the plug out of the wall so no electricity can reach the lamp.
electric shock
A painful and dangerous jolt when electricity passes through your body.
💡 Handy Tip: take the old bulb with you when you choose a new one. Hold them side by side - same fitting at the bottom, same type written on the glass or base - and you will never bring home the wrong bulb.
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