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. 

Make sure there are no loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices, if so have them replaced or repaired.

Never touch anything electrical when you have wet hands.

Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.

Older homes should have protective caps installed to protect children. New homes now require tamper proof receptacles.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.

Avoid overloading outlets. Consider plugging only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.

If outlets or switches feel warm, shut off the circuit and have them checked by a qualified licensed electrician.

When possible, avoid the use of "power strips" and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle.

Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn and use bulbs that match the lamp's recommended wattage.

Never use electrical appliances such as hair dryers or radios in a wet place or near water.

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.

If there’s flooding, watch out for water around electrical items, and never use appliances if they’re wet.

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.

Never prune trees yourself that are near power lines.

Wire your home with 110volt combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

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.