Electrical safety involves knowing the dangers, prevention, and what to do in case of an electrical fire or lightning strike. Electrocution is a serious risk, and even small amounts of current can be deadly. Smart practices include avoiding overloading outlets, replacing damaged cords, and knowing how to shut off power. In case of an emergency, call for help, shut off power, and use non-conductors to remove victims from the hazard. Electrical safety requires ongoing awareness and prevention.
Knowing electrical safety means knowing the dangers and how to prevent them. But that is not all. The third and perhaps most important thing to know about electrical safety is what to do when prevention efforts fail and you are faced with an electrical fire or lightning strike.
Some people only think about electrical safety during the holidays, but dangers exist year-round. Electrocution is the most serious and life-threatening risk. Just as it is possible to drown in an inch of water, the smallest amount of current can kill a person under the right conditions. Even small light bulbs like those used to decorate Christmas trees can deliver a shock of electricity strong enough to stop heartbeat and breathing. If the electrical hazards to your body aren’t enough, consider this: In addition to the hundreds of deaths they cause each year, the blue smoke and ozone smell from electrical fires destroy scores of homes and businesses, uprooting families and causing thousands and thousands of victims. dollars of property damage.
Smart electrical safety practices start at home. There’s more to it than keeping water and other conductors as far away from electrical equipment and outlets as possible. Look out for worn or damaged electrical cords and replace them immediately. Do not modify or remove the third prong, or ground, to fit the plugs into two-prong electrical outlets. Working on an electrical appliance while it’s plugged in is a huge no-no. Never attempt to drag or lift an electrical device by the power cord; the most likely result is that the wire insulation thins or shifts, increasing the risk of electrical fires.
Avoid overloading wall outlets and power strips by adding double extension cords or adding outlet multipliers on top of outlet multipliers. The sheer amount of current needed to power all the stuff you’ve plugged in comes at a cost: additional heat. The wires in the wall and the extension cord are designed to carry a certain amount of current and heat. Once you go beyond the rated current, you will find that you have left the world of electrical safety and entered the much scarier world of electrical fires.
When you’re the first to discover a shock or electrical fire, know what to do. He calls for help and warns others immediately. Often times, electrocution causes a person’s muscles to contract, making it impossible for them to let go of whatever is electrifying them. Don’t make the mistake of trying to pull them off with your bare hands, as this will increase the number of electrocution victims by one. Instead, he tries to shut down the power quickly, using a wooden broomstick or some other non-conductor to disconnect the malfunctioning device from the wall.
Also find out where the circuit breakers and fuse boxes are located, in case it’s part of your home’s infrastructure causing the electrocution. If you are unable to de-energize the situation, use a leather belt or wooden broom handle, carefully!, to remove the victim from the electrical hazard. When the victim is safely out of harm’s way, including electrical fires that may have arisen, check for a pulse and regular breathing. Administer CPR and ensure that qualified medical help is on the way.
It’s not enough to think about electrical safety from time to time. You can’t make your home electrically safe today and then cross it off your list forever. Electrical hazards will always find a way to electrocute the person who is too content with electrical safety. To keep your home and family safe from electrical fires and electrocution, you need to keep awareness and prevention at the top of your list, all round.
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