Bright Safety Ideas
Electrical power gives us light and warmth, without safety precautions, electrical power can be dangerous. Bright ideas and precautions like these listed help to insure safety:
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Always hire a qualified licensed electrical contractor for all of your wiring and installation needs, including verifying that the electrical ground in your home is connected and installed properly.
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Make sure there are no loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices, if so have them replaced or repaired.
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Never touch anything electrical when you have wet hands.
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Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.
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Older homes should have protective caps installed to protect children. New homes now require tamper proof receptacles.
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Follow the manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.
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Avoid overloading outlets. Consider plugging only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.
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If outlets or switches feel warm, shut off the circuit and have them checked by a qualified licensed electrician.
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When possible, avoid the use of "power strips" and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle.
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Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn and use bulbs that match the lamp's recommended wattage.
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Never use electrical appliances such as hair dryers or radios in a wet place or near water.
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If power is lost during a storm, turn off or unplug electrical appliances so that there’s not a power surge when the electricity comes back on.
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If there’s flooding, watch out for water around electrical items, and never use appliances if they’re wet.
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Watch for overhead power lines, making sure to never play with kites or any other flying objects near lines. If a toy is caught in power line, do not attempt to remove yourself.
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Never prune trees yourself that are near power lines.
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Wire your home with 110volt combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
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Be careful with heaters in the winter, always disconnect them when you leave the room and avoid running the wires under carpet or thru walls.