Each year, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)
dedicates the month of May to promoting electrical safety. According to the ESFI, an estimated 47,000 residential
fires are caused by an electrical failure or malfunction, resulting in
approximately 400 deaths and 1,500 injuries totaling more than $1.4 billion in
property damage.
Whether you rent or own your home, electrical safety should
be a priority. ESFI has an educational library
of resources for assisting homeowners,
consumers, older
adults and children
on electrical safety.
Follow these tips to help keep your home and family safe:
Exercise Extension
Cord Safety – When improperly used, extension cords can overheat and cause
fires. Over 3,000 house fires are due to
extension cord misuse, causing roughly 50 fatalities and 300 injuries each
year.
Don’t plug extension cords into one another or
overload them
Check cord for proper rating for their intended
use
Inspect for cracks, frays, loose wires and
connections
Do not nail or staple cords to walls or
baseboards
Keep all outdoor extension cords clear of snow
and water
Practice
Do-it-Yourself Safety – Many home owners prefer to tackle DIY projects in
the home. However, there is an estimated
average of 70 deaths by consumer product electrocution, annually, and 400 fatal
electrocutions across the United States each year.
Avoid projects beyond your skill level
Turn off the power to the circuit you plan to
work on at the circuit breaker main panel
Unplug appliances or other equipment before
working on it
Test wires before touching them to ensure
they’re not live
Never attempt to handle gas pipes when working
on an electrical project
Maintain Working
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Almost 3,000 people die in house
fires in the United States each year.
That’s roughly eight people per day.
Nearly two-thirds of those occur in homes with nonfunctioning or with no
installed smoke detectors.
Install smoke detectors in every bedroom or
sleeping area, on every level
Interconnected alarms, where one alarm triggers
the rest, offer the most protection
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be
tested once a month
For the most reliable protection, replace the
batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions
Smoke detectors should be replaced every ten
years
Utilize Home Safety
Checklists – Simple checklists can help you identify and correct electrical
and fire hazards in your home before an emergency occurs.
Check to make sure your switches and outlets are
working properly
Switches and outlets should not be warm to the
touch
Note any discoloration from heat buildup
Listen for unusual cracking, sizzling, or
buzzing noises coming from outlets and switches
Check for loose fitting plugs which can cause
overheating and fires
If you aren’t completely certain how to tackle a project involving electricity, don’t try it! Contact a professional electrician and leave it to the experts. Your life, and that of your family, may depend upon it.
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