Safety
Your safety
Terrapins have been known for carrying salmonella, not all terrapins carry it, but some do, and unfortunately there is no way of knowing. This is only an issue with personal hygiene, you should wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap before and after touching your terrapins, feeding them and changing the water. It is imperative children are made to wash their hands after contact with anything the terrapin has recently been in contact with. Electrical equipment should be checked regularly and extra precautions should be made to avoid contact with the water, this can be done by setting the wires in a certain way. This is called a drip loop, and it basically means all wires coming from the tank go down vertically before making a 'U turn' at the bottom and coming back up to the socket. This means the water drips off the bottom of the 'U turn', and doesn't make it to the socket. It is also important to not overload plugs.
Terrapin safety
To ensure your pets safety you should check the tank everyday, making sure all rocks are stable, the temperature is safe, the hygiene in the tank and electrical equipment. Using a condensation tray will stop electrical equipment coming into contact with water which could prove dangerous. Ensure the terrapins are safe from unsupervised children and any other pets you may have such as dogs, cats and birds. You must be very careful when feeding your turtle live food, ensuring that the food could not have pesticides or diseases on it, also remember to remove uneaten food to prevent a high level of nitrates and nitrites appearing in the water which could be fatal. It is unlikely your turtle would be able to escape but be aware of the risks and don’t make it easy for them. Most of these things are common sense and should be done without thinking.