ELECTRICITY: PREVENTING INJURIES

Electric shock can cause serious injury or death. Some simple precautions can prevent electric shock hazards around the home.

Be sure to do the following:

Inspect electric cords for fraying. If you see a crack in the insulation, repair or replace it. Cords exposed to frequent motion, sun, or aging are most likely to be frayed. Another common cause of fraying is chewing by a dog or gnawing by a rodent.

Do not overload electrical circuits. This may happen when you plug too many appliances into the same outlet using adapters.

Replace all the older two-pronged outlets. All outlets in the home should be of the 3-pronged type. It is not safe to use adapters that allow you to plug a 3-pronged appliance into a 2-pronged outlet.

Keep all electric appliances away from water, such as a sink or a bathtub. Do not handle extension cords or electric appliances, or plug anything into an electrical outlet, while you are wet.

Inspect electrical outlets used near sources of water, such as the bathroom sink or near a hot tub, spa, or swimming pool. All such outlets should be a special type known as ground fault interrupter (GFI) outlets.

Keep electric appliances, outlets, and light bulbs away from flammable liquids or products that produce vapors.

Make sure that children do not play near or climb on electric lines on a power pole or where these lines enter a house.

Insert plastic safety caps in all unused electrical outlets if small children are present in a home.

Do not use the telephone, use any hand-held electrical appliance, or take a bath or shower during a lightning storm. Do not walk out in the open, or take cover under a tree, during a lightning storm.

Many local power companies have literature available that helps identify potential electrical home hazards. Call your local power company for more information.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File PERS4862.rf2 VRS# 4862 Data Version 7.0