Safety at Home

How electricity gets into your home

• Wiring from the service entrance enters your house through a panel box or circuit breaker box. 
• Electricity is then distributed through insulated wiring throughout the house. 
• Fuses and/or breakers control the amount of electricity that goes to outlets. It is important to avoid overloading circuits.

Safety - connections and cords

• If a fuse blows, replace it with one of the same amperage rating. 
• Never substitute a coin or metal object in place of a blown fuse. 
• If a fuse or breaker repeatedly blows, have a qualified electrician identify and correct the problem immediately. 
• Never touch bare wiring or electrical contacts until the power has been disconnected to those areas. 
• Label disconnected circuits so that someone else does not accidentally reconnect the power. 
• Never run cords underneath carpeting, it can damage wires and their protective coating. 
• Install ground fault circuits. They detect electrical problems and shut off power before you get hurt. 
• Octopus-type plug extenders are dangerous because they can draw more current than your wiring can handle and can start a fire. 
• Extension cords should only be used as a temporary souce of power – they are not a safe, long-term solution.
• Coiling extension cords can cause heat build-up and melt the coating.

Safety - appliances and equipment

• Appliances like irons, should always be unplugged when not in use and the cord coiled to prevent injury to children. 
• Always disconnect appliances before moving, cleaning or repairing them. 
• Always unplug the toaster before sticking a anything in it to retrieve bread that is lodged. 
• Keep electrical appliances away from water. 
• Always pull the plug, not the cord.

Children and pets

• Babies, small children and pets sometimes find electrical outlets and cords fascinating. 
• Block access to electrical outlets with plastic safety plugs. 
• Don’t let pets chew on electrical cords.