Prevent Electrical Hazards in Your Home

We use electricity so frequently in our daily lives that it is easy to forget the dangers associated with it. Accidental electrocutions or electrical fires in the home cause a number of injuries and deaths, as well as property damage each year in the United States. Following a few simple precautions can easily prevent many of these accidents.

Rid your home of the following electrical hazards:

• Frayed or worn electric cords
• Appliance plugs “piggy backed” on a single outlet
• Electrical appliances such as radios, hairdryers, shavers, portable lamps or radiators near showers, baths or swimming pools
• Extension cords used in place of permanent indoor/outdoor wiring
• Electrical appliances that frequently trip the breaker, overheat or emit sparks

The most reliable way to reduce the risk of death by electrocution is to have a residual current device (RCD), more commonly known as a safety switch, installed in your household breaker panel. If the device detects faulty wiring or senses that electric current is passing through a foreign object, the safety switch immediately shuts the power off. The RCD is not guaranteed to completely prevent an electric shock.  However, it will reduce severity of the injury.

General electrical safety tips:

• Have a licensed electrician install a safety switch in your household breaker panel
• Unplug electrical appliances when they are not in use
• When unplugging an appliance, hold the plug rather than the cord
• Make sure outdoor appliances do not come in contact with water
• Never touch appliances or switches with wet hands
• Have faulty appliances repaired by a professional or throw them out; do not attempt to repair faulty appliances on your own
• Cover all outlets in your home that children could touch
• Place all electrical appliances out of the reach of children