Back To School: Electrical Safety 101

Now that it is back to school time, we want to take the opportunity to invite adults to also come back to school and learn some much needed safety tips!

With the Rugrats back in class, there is no better time than now to brush up on your skills, and learn some new techniques that will keep you and your home safe! The safety we have in mind is electrical safety. Thousands of people are injured every year due to electrical shocks and electrical related accidents.

A way to reduce this risk is by having a good understanding of how your electrical system works. In this article, we will give you a broad view of safety tips on many different levels. Come along and keep your home and children safe!

Electrical DIY Safety

There are many small electrical issues that can be done with the help of DIY projects. While these are all well and good, it is extremely important that you are careful, and know-how to spot safety issues before an injury happens.

Here are a few tips on DIY electrical safety:

• Know Your Electrical- The first tip is to familiarize yourself with your electrical system.
• Turn Off The Power- Anytime you need to make adjustments or repairs to your electrical system, be sure to turn off the power at your main circuit breaker.
• Unplug- If you are doing repairs on an appliance or any other electrical device, be sure to unplug it from the wall first.
• Test Your Wires- You also want to make sure you are testing the wires to make sure they are not live before you start your work. You can get a voltage tester for cheap at your hardware store.
• Piping- When doing an electrical project, make sure you are not coming in contact with any water or gas piping.
• No Your Limits- This may be the most important one! Know what your limitations are. If you do not feel comfortable doing something, call for help. A professional electrician will be able to assist you so you do not risk injury.

Pay Attention To Your Smoke Alarms

Your smoke alarms and your carbon monoxide alarms are the most important aspects of the electrical system in your home. In case of an emergency, they are going to alert you to the problem allowing you to get out of the home.

These alarms are not only important for yourself, but for your entire house, family, and in some cases neighbors. Think of having a date night out. You have a babysitter come over to watch your children.

When all the kids are asleep upstairs in separate bedrooms, the fire alarm goes off. It is because of this alarm that the babysitter and your children will make it out of the home unharmed. Though the above situation is very scary, it can happen.

A fire can spread quicker than you realize. Testing the alarm to make sure the electric components are working should be done once a month. You should also be checking to make sure the backup batteries are in place. This is just as true for your carbon monoxide detectors.

Baby Proof Your Electrical System

When you have a baby on the way, or your toddler is starting to be mobile, it’s time to baby proof all of your electrical outlets and other electrical components. This will protect your toddler from deadly shocks and other injuries. Here are a few tips when baby proofing:

• Use outlet covers that are too big for a baby to choke on. A good measure of this is whether they fit into a paper towel roll. If they are small enough to fit inside the roll, they are small enough to choke on.
• Stay away from colorful outlet plus as babies will be attracted to the bright colors. It is better to stay with plain white or nude.
• Test the outlet plug before you let your toddler roam. If they are installed correctly, you should have trouble pulling it off.
• Always remember to replace the outlet cover once you are done using the outlet. They are no good if they are not in place.
• Use a sliding outlet cover. This eliminates the risk of a child choking on an outlet cover, and you don’t have to remember to reinstall it.
• Use a box outlet cover for outlets that have stationery items plugged in. This is great for areas where you have your TV, lamps, and other appliances always plugged in.

Share Your Knowledge

Now that you have some information on how to be safe when working with your electrical equipment, we ask that you share it around. If you know someone who needs this information, let them know where to find it!

As mentioned before, if you feel unsure of any electrical issues within your home, please ask for help from a professional. JDV Electric is available to answer questions and help with emergency situations. Give us a call today at 610-364-5099.