Electrical Safety Tips For Your Family

Imagine life without electricity, it would be so hard and boring. Electricity is one of the most useful and amazing man-made innovations. It brightens our homes with light, keeps our families warm, and generally aids in operating all the house appliances. There are different sources of electricity, including windmills, water, and solar panels.

Electricity can turn out to be hazardous if safety measures are not put in place or when mishandled. There are reports of several people who die because of electric shocks. Let us go through the important electrical safety tips for families.

Safety Tips For Electrical Appliances

 Appliances play a very huge role in our homes. Ranging from cooking, entertaining, and generally giving family members direction. Observe the following tips when using electrical appliances.

• Ensure your hands are not wet or you are not standing on the water while operating electrical appliances in your home.
• Keep your electrical appliances away from water. When no one is around the house, it is important to shut off the main water valve, most probably the ball valve to avoid any leakages or overflow. Visit dombor.com to learn more and purchase high-quality products.
• Make sure you go through instructions pinned on appliances and follow them to the latter
• Don’t place items like decor and toys around appliances that generate heat. For instance, the computer monitors and refrigerators.
• Always make sure you unplug appliances and store them away from children or even family pets.
• Ensure all the appliances that you buy are approved by reputable consumer laboratories.
• Avoid using portable heaters in bathrooms.
• Ensure your kitchen exhaust is always clean, substances like grease are harmful.

2.Safety Tips For Electrical Cords.

Each and every electrical appliance in your house has cords. Some families prefer using extension cords to increase the electrical outlet range. Observe the following safety tips when handling cords.

• Make sure you use the correct length and weight of extension cords for whatever task you want to carry out. Confirm if the cord is rated for outdoor or indoor use before deciding where to use them.
• Pull the cord at the outlet rather than the cord itself when unplugging it.
• Usage of extension cords should be minimal since they offer temporary solutions.
• Avoid modifying the cord’s plug to force it to fit in a different outlet
• Don’t place cords in hidden places like under carpets or doors.
• Cords should not be nailed or even stapled in position, use twist ties or tapes to make them remain in the desired position.
• Firmly plug the cord into outlets, they should not be loose.
• Don’t use cords for purposes other than the intended one. They should not be used as clotheslines or jump ropes for kids.
• Always check cords regularly just Incase they have cracks or frays.
• Use water-resistant cord extension when working in wet areas

3. Safety Tips For Light Bulbs

These are common electrical fixtures used in most houses. They can be hazardous if they are not handled safely. Observe the following safety tips when handling light bulbs.

• Unplug your light fixtures completely before changing your light bulbs.
• Bulbs should not be fixed tightly using screws, loosely attached bulbs are more likely to cause shorts.
• In case your compact fluorescent bulb breaks, open your windows and doors then instruct everyone to leave the house for a few minutes.
• Use a more efficient compact. fluorescent light bulbs that will give the same light level at a lower level of wattage.
• Ensure the light bulbs you are using have the correct watts for each fixture. Higher wattage bulbs may overheat the fixture. Consider led lights since they use less power and produce low heat levels.
• Replace light bulbs that flicker from time to time.
• Avoid placing lamps near any flammable items like curtains.

4.Safety Tips For handling electrical outlets

They are receptacles for the plug of electrical devices. Each and every cord has to be plugged into the correct electrical outlets. If foreign objects enter these outlets, shorts or fires may occur. The following safety tips are crucial when handling electrical outlets.

• Cover all electrical outlets with secure plates to hide all the wiring.
• Fix fault circuit interrupter in the ground around potentially hazardous areas, for instance swimming pool and bathroom areas. The fault circuit interrupter will shut off if it detects current diversion that may lead to an electrical fire.
• Avoid putting foreign objects into electrical outlets, only the correct size plug should be fit in them.
• Avoid overloading electrical outlets with multiple adaptors.
• Use cover plates to block unused electrical outlets.

5.Other Safety Measures 

• Avoid swimming or playing in the water during electrical storms.
• Repairs involving electricity in your home should be done by highly qualified electricians.
• Replace light switches that feel hot when touched
• Put in mind or just assume that any contact with power lines can be hazardous.
• Avoid climbing fences secured with electricity. In case there is a pet or playing items trapped in it contact an electrician
• Instruct kids to ask for help from grownups anytime they wish to use home appliances that use electricity.
• Put off the main electricity switch In case there is no power.
• Make sure you have at least one fire extinguisher at home just Incase of an electrical fire.
• Consult an electrician on anything you are not sure about, as long as it involves electricity.

Conclusion

Prevention is always better than cure. Electricity has a lot of benefits when used appropriately, but it can also turn out to be hazardous in seconds. The safety tips discussed above are very crucial especially if you have young kids around your home.