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Electrical Safety
Electricity
is our most mysterious form of energy. You can't see, hear or
smell it. But, you sure can feel it.
Electricity seeks the
easiest path to the ground, through the easiest available conductor such
as metal, wet wood or water. And, since the human body is 70%
water, it is considered a conductor as well--and a very good one at
that! If a person touches an energized wire or faulty equipment
while grounded, they will get a harmful, possibly deadly shock since the
electricity passes through the body immediately upon connection.
Treat electricity with
the respect it deserves. NEVER assume anything!
"Each
year, there are 40,000 residential fires due to electrical wiring,
claiming more than 350 lives, causing thousands of injuries from shocks
and burns, creating $2,000,000,000 in personal property damage.
Electric receptacles are responsible for 40 deaths and 5,300
fires."1
If someone is being
shocked with a household current:
- Don't touch the
victim unless the power is off
- Unplug the appliance
or turn off the power at the service panel
- If you can't turn
off the power, use a dry wooden broom handle or dry clothing to
separate the victim from the power source
- Call 911 or get
emergency medical assistance
- If the victim is not
breathing, begin CPR
- If the victim is
conscious, keep them calm, lay them on their back and elevate their
legs. Cover them with a blanket.
If someone is being
shocked with a current from an outdoor high voltage line:
- Don't try to
separate the victim from the power source
- Don't touch the
victim unless you are absolutely certain the victim is not in
contact with the electrical wire or hazard
- Call 911 or get
emergency help and medical assistance
If you have an
electrical fire:
- Unplug the burning
or smoking appliance
- Get everyone out of
the house at once
- If the fire is
small, use a CO2 or dry powder extinguisher. Never put
water on an electrical fire.
- Dial 911 (or the
appropriate fire department phone number). Never assume that
you have gotten the fire totally out as it may have extended behind
walls, cabinets or into other void spaces.
Here are some
electrical safety tips:
- Know where the main
electric box is--and how to turn the power off both for an
individual circuit as well as for the main breaker
- Never overload a
circuit
- Use three-prong
grounded cords for devices requiring grounding
- Never file or cut
three-prong or polarized plugs to make them fit
- Never use
frayed/cracked/damaged cords--have it fixed at once
- If you're constantly
blowing a fuse or tripping a breaker, there is something
wrong! Get it checked!
- Protect young
fingers from receptacles--install plastic covers in the receptacles
and teach them not to stick objects or fingers into the receptacles
- Install ground fault
circuit interrupter circuits (GFCI's) in bathrooms, kitchens, and
outdoor outlets. Be sure they are tested regularly
- Never replace a
blown fuse with anything other than a fuse with the SAME rating
- Dry your hands
before touching a switch, plug, or receptacle. Do not use
appliances while standing in water
- Do not run extension
cords under rugs/carpeting
- Don't
overload a receptacle with too many appliances
- Be sure the
receptacle can handle the amperage being plugged in
- Be sure that the
branch circuit can handle the amperage being used by all receptacles
on the branch
- Unplug all
counter-top appliances when not in use. When plugged in, they
appliances still have dangerous electrical voltages inside of
them--even when they're turned off
- Keep appliances
& their cords away from water.
- If an appliance
falls into water, don't retrieve it until you've unplugged it.
Don't use the product again until you've had it inspected and
repaired by an authorized repairperson
- Receptacles should
be covered with a child-proof fitting.
- Only use light bulbs
at or below the wattage specified by the manufacturer for the given
lamp or light fixture.
1©MMIII
National Fire Safety Council Inc., Michigan Center, MI 49254-0378
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