Electrical Safety

Protect your family against accidental electrical contact/shock by observing the following safety practices. When using electricity around the house:

• Do not overload electrical outlets. Your breaker box or fuse box should contain a diagram showing the amp capacity for each circuit. Make sure the combined amp rating of your electrical equipment does not exceed the circuit’s capacity.
• Install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)* outlets in the kitchen, bathroom, outdoor receptacles and other water access areas. GFCIs have a test button (which breaks the circuit) and a reset button (to re-open the circuit). Sometimes a major electrical storm can affect GFCIs and you may have to reset them.
• Do not place electrical appliances near water holding and water storage areas.
• Do not use black electrical tape to repair a frayed power cord, or to splice a power cord even if you cover all exposed wire. The black tape - usually vinyl – is not rated to handle the heat generated by electricity running through wires. It will melt and burn.
• Do not leave an extension cord permanently in place. Extension cords are temporary solutions only and not safe as a substitute for home wiring. They tend to wear out and could overheat and cause a fire. After using one, unplug it and store it. Do not connect multiple extension cords. Never run extension cords underneath rugs, carpets, or furniture. Walking on cords can lessen the durability of the cord and possibly cause a fire.
• Place safety covers on all unused wall outlets.
• Use proper wattage when replacing burned-out bulbs for lamps and lighting fixtures to prevent overheating and risk of fire.
• Replace burned out light bulbs immediately, never leave lamp sockets empty. It is okay to use bulbs equal to or lower than the recommended wattage.
• Use an adapter with a ground tab for a three-pronged plus. Never attempt to remove the third prong.
• Replace faulty electrical products.
• Never leave small appliances such as hair dryers, curling irons, toasters, radios and TVs within the reach of small children and pets.
• Never use a fork or knife to remove food objects from a toaster that is plugged in.
• After using a portable generator during an emergency, the safe and correct way to shut it off is to turn off all appliances powered by the generator before shutting down the generator. This will avoid a power surge to your household circuits.
• Do not use a land line telephone during a lightning storm because a strike can travel into your house, through your phone cord, into your telephone and into the handset.  Cordless phones are not dangerous because there is no physical connection to the wires. But you should not use your cordless phone during an electrical storm to call your neighbor who may not have a cordless phone.