In Home Safety Tips

Below we have a compiled a library of safety tips, links to safety videos, as well as children’s activities and games. 

ELECTRICAL SAFETY TIPS

Electric/Extension Cords

  • When unplugging a cord, pull on the plug, not the cord.
  • Repair or replace an appliance if the cord is damaged or frayed. 
  • Don't place cords where someone can easily trip over them or where people will be walking on them (under carpets, across doorways, etc.). 
  • Don't coil appliance or extension cords while they're in use. 
  • Avoid using extension cords when possible. If you must use an extension cord, pick one that is at least as large as the appliance's cord.
  • Use a three-wire extension cord with an appliance that has a three-wire cord.  
  • Unplug extension cords when not in use

Small Appliances

  • Never use an appliance around or in a wet area.
  • Teach children not to touch appliances with wet hands.
  • Keep combustible materials away from heating appliances.
  • Unplug small appliances when you've finished using them. 

 Lighting

  • Use bulbs of the appropriate wattage in fixtures and lamps. Using a higher wattage bulb than recommended can overheat the bulb and may lead to fire. If the recommended wattage is not on the fixture, use a 60-watt bulb. 
  • Keep attic insulation clear of recessed lighting. 

Other In-Home Tips

  • Childproof outlets.
  • Never overload a wall receptacle with too many appliances.
  • Look for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) seal of approval when buying electrical equipment, appliances, and decorative lighting.
  • Know your limits. Contact a professional to perform electrical work in your home.

SAFETY VIDEOS

Tamper Resistant Receptacles (TRRs): Each year, approximately 2,400 children suffer severe shock and burns when they stick items into the slots of electrical receptacles - that is nearly seven children a day.  It is estimated that there are six to 12 fatalities a year related to this. Nearly one-third of these injuries are the result of small children placing ordinary household objects, such as keys, pins, or paperclips into the outlets with disastrous consequences. Located in practically every room in every house throughout the United States, electrical outlets and receptacles represent a constant and real danger wherever young children are found.But now, new technology called tamper resistant receptacles, or TRRs, provide a simple, affordable, reliable, and permanent solution to help prevent these kinds of injuries.
VIDEO: Childproofing Your Home: Tamper Resistant Receptacles

Extension Cord Safety:
Extension cords offer a convenient solution for delivering power right where it’s needed. But proper selection and use of extension cords is critical to avoiding injuries. An estimated 3,300 residential fires originate in extension cords each year, killing and injuring more than 300 people. In addition, nearly 4,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for non-fire related extension cord injuries, including fractures, lacerations, and electrical burns. Prevent potentially dangerous extension cord mistakes by following a few simple guidelines.
VIDEO: Extension Cord Safety, Virtual Demonstration

Outside Safety: Before starting any project, always look up to make sure you’re aware of any overhead power lines. Whether you’re working on the roof, trimming trees, or cleaning the gutters, make sure you’re a safe distance from any power line and make sure to warn others of their proximity.
VIDEO: Electrical Safety Outside the Home