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Electrical Safety 101: Protecting Your Home & Family

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You don’t have to be a child to enjoy learning new and different things in Columbiana this August. In the spirit of classes returning to school for a new school year, we’d like to invite you to attend a class of your own. Today we’re going to learn all about electrical safety.

With more and more homeowners doing their best at DIY fixes, it’s important to understand your limitations as well. So send the kids off to school and get ready to take notes for the best ways to keep you and your home safe!

Do It Yourself Electrical Safety Tips

Home electrical safety is an incredibly important thing to both learn about and to teach your friends and family. In fact, the vast majority of electrical injuries in the home (including electrocutions and fires) could be prevented by following a few simple DIY safety tips.

  • Always learn about your home’s electrical system in detail before attempting any home repairs, and never attempt any repairs that are beyond your skill level.
  • Always turn off the circuit breaker and power to the circuit you are planning on working on, prior to performing any repairs. It is also a good idea to unplug the appliance, just in case.
  • Stay away from all gas and plumbing lines and pipes when performing any home electrical repairs.
  • Prevent any electrical overload by plugging in only the appropriate amount of items per outlet.
  • Make sure all extension cords are used appropriately.

The Importance of Smoke Alarms

The single most important electrical safety tool in your house is your smoke alarm. Up to eight people die every single day in house fires in the United States!

That’s over 3,000 people yearly, and many of those deaths could be prevented by simple smoke alarms. Make sure you have a working smoke detector installed in each bedroom, as well as outside each sleeping area of your home and on each floor.

It’s best if all of these alarms are interconnected so that they will all go off if there is a problem. Smoke alarms should be tested once monthly and have their batteries replaced once a year (more frequently if you hear that telltale chirping noise).

How Electrical Safety and Baby Proofing Overlap

Electrical safety is even more important with a new baby in the home. Once those babies start to explore their environment, it is imperative that you take certain steps to avoid any injuries or even potentially avoidable deaths.

Outlet caps or plugs are one of the best ways to keep little fingers out of electrical sockets. Make sure that each plug fits firmly into the outlet, as outlets come in many different shapes and sizes.

If outlet caps or plugs don’t fit, it is easy for toddlers to remove them and they also then become a choking hazard. Sliding outlet covers and box outlet covers are also equally as effective and can be more adult user-friendly.

Please share this article with your friends and family, especially those you think are in need of a refresher course on electrical safety. We hope you learned something new and can help your loved ones (especially those with small children) stay safe as well.

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