May 2005

Make Safe Connections...

Plug Into Electrical Safety

May is electric safety month

Young parents in an older home wanted the best for their new infant.  The house was cold, so they bought an electric heater.

The home only had one electrical outlet per room. The father bought three extension cords so he could run the electric supply to the heater from another room. He didn't realize extension cords are not designed to be a permanent part of the electrical system.

The ends of the cords were big and bulky under the carpets.  So the father cut off the ends and spliced them together.

That's where the fire started. Their new baby didn't survive.

The young father had helped at least six of his neighbors with the same hookup.

According to the latest data from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 411 accidental electrocutions in 2001. That's bad enough.

The CPSC estimates there were more than 140,000 electrical-related home structure fires, taking an average of 500 more lives, injuring 5,000 and costing $1.6 billing in property damage.

There was no way to prevent some of those fires. But many resulted from shortcuts or a lack of knowledge of safe wiring practices.

Don't cut corners or guess when it comes to dealing with electricity. Get professional help. Saving a couple of bucks is not worth a tragedy.

Strike a Cord

•Make sure all extension cords, as well as power cords permanently attached to appliances are in good condition.   If the power cord is damaged, take the item to an authorized service center or cut the cord and dispose of the appliance.

•Don't repair or splice a cord.   Electrical tape is not rated for the heat generated by electricity that runs through wires and can melt and burn.

•Make sure all items, including cords, are certified by a national testing lab like Underwriters Laboratories.

•Don't coil power cords when in use.   This causes heat buildup.

•Don't put cords across high traffic areas.

•Never nail or staple power cords.

•Never alter the polarized blade (the wide prong) on a cord's plug.

•Extension cords are for temporary use.

•Using lots of extension cords indicates additional outlets need to be installed.

•Make sure extension cords are properly rated for their intended use (indoor or outdoor as well as electrical load).

More Information:  National Electrical Safety Foundation

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