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Home Precautions
Know These Safety Rules and Prevent Electrical Accidents in Your Home

You cannot see it, smell it, or taste it, but every day electricity is working hard for you and your family. It gives us light, keeps our homes warm, runs our appliances, cooks our food, and generally makes living easier and more enjoyable.

Right now, you could be living with dangerous electrical hazards. Learn these safety tips and stay safe in your home.

Appliances

  • Keep appliances in good condition.
  • Always unplug appliances by pulling the plug, NOT the cord, when not in use.

Child Safety

  • Cover seldom-used outlets with well-fitting plastic safety plugs
  • For outlets used frequently, get safety covers that let appliance cords pass in and out.
  • Never leave light bulb sockets empty. Replace burned out bulbs immediately.
  • Keep floors clear of small metal objects children may use to poke in outlets.
  • Put fans and portable heaters out of children's reach.

Electrical Shock

  • NEVER touch a person who has been shocked. Turn off the power source, if possible; if not, try to separate the power source from the person with a wooden object or rope.
  • Dial 911 immediately for help.

Fire

  • In case of fire, pull the plug by the cord (FIRE is the only time you pull by the cord)or turn off the main power switch if possible.
  • Keep a CO2 fire extinguisher to extinguish electrical fires.
  • NEVER put water on an electrical fire. Dial 911 immediately.

Fuses and Circuit Breakers

  • If power shuts off in your home, try to find the cause. It may be that you have a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
  • When resetting circuit breakers, do not stand on a damp floor.
  • Never replace fuses with a copper penny or wrap one in aluminum foil.
  • Call a qualified electrician for inspection if power does not resume.

Ground Rules

  • Have a qualifed electrical contractor inspect your home to be sure it is properly grounded.
  • Large appliances should have their own circuit and be grounded with a three-pronged plug.

Portable Heaters

  • Be sure to keep space heaters clear of anything flammable, such as curtains or bed linens
  • Purchase heaters that have automatic shut-off devices when knocked over.
  • Always unplug them when not in use.

Power Tools

  • Be sure your equipment is adequate for the job -- there must be enough circuits of the correct size and all must be well grounded.
  • Use the safety release to prevent accidental starting.
  • Keep tools clean; use and store them in a dry place. Dampness increases shock hazard.
  • Protect cords from heat, chemicals, gases or oil, and coil them loosely when finished.

Water and Electricity

  • Never stand in water or on a damp floor when using electrical appliances.
  • Do not put any electrical parts in water.
  • Do not touch or lean on plumbing pipes and touch an appliance at the same time.
  • Do not locate your swimming pool under power lines.