• News About Appliances
• "Temporary" Means "Temporary"
• An Electrical Lifesaver
• Home Safety Checklist
• Stay Safe Around Electrical Equipment
• Holiday Safety Tips
• Post-Holiday Safety
• Summer Electrical Safety
• Extending Electrical Safety
• Home Office Safety
• Energy Efficient Water Heaters
• Kids Love Halloween
• Portable Generators

• Do not substitute extension cords for permanent wiring.
• Do not run through walls, doorways, ceilings or floors.
• Do not use an extension cord for more than one appliance.

• Multiple plug outlets must be plugged directly into mounted electrical receptacles. They cannot be chained together.
• Make sure the extension cord or temporary power strip you use is rated for the products to be plugged in and is marked for either indoor or outdoor use.
• Never use a cord that feels hot or is damaged in any way.

• GFCIs are products designed to prevent serious injury or death from electrical shock by detecting ground faults at very low levels.
• A GFCI should be used in any area where water may come in contact with electrical products. GFCIs are now required by code in certain areas of the home, including unfinished basements, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces and around swimming pools.
• If a GFCI senses minimal current leakage to ground in an electrical circuit, it assumes a ground fault has occurred. It then interrupts power fast enough to prevent serious injury from electrical shock.
• Three types of GFCIs are designed for home use-wall receptacle, circuit breaker and portable plug-in. All three are readily available, inexpensive and fairly simple to install.

• You can check to see that lamps and extension cords aren't cracked, frayed or covered by rugs or furniture.
• Check light bulbs to determine that the wattage is appropriate for lighting fixtures.
• Electrical appliances should be kept away from damp and hot surfaces and have appropriate air circulation.

• Never remove the third prong of a three-prong plug. Convert two-pronged outlets using an adapter with a ground tab.
• When working outdoors, use only weather-resistant heavy gauge extension cords marked "for outdoor use."
• Keep outdoor outlets and electrical products covered and dry between uses.
• If an electrical products falls into a pool or pond, unplug it before you reach into the water.
• Turn off electrical products if a cord overheats.
• Be sure amperage ratings for outdoor extension cards are higher than those of the electrical product with which they're used.
• Never try to repair electrical products yourself.
• Keep cords out of your path or work area. Throw the cord over your shoulder.
• Put a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) between your electric power source and your electric products.

• Carefully inspect each electrical decoration. Cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires and loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire.
• Don't staple or nail through light strings or electrical/extension cords-you could damage the wire or insulation, which could lead to an electrical shock or fire.
• Don't overload extension cords or allow them to run through water or snow on the ground.
• Before using any light strings, animated displays or other electrical products outdoors, make sure the product is approved by a nationally recognized certification organization and marked "for outdoor use."
• Don't use electrical ornaments or light strings on artificial trees with metallic leaves or branch coverings. This could create an electrical shock.
• It is important to turn off all electrical light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.
• Follow the use and care instructions that accompany your electrical decorations.
• Whether artificial or freshly cut, a tree should be kept a safe distance away from all sources of heat. Also, make sure the tree doesn't block any exists.

• Use the gripping area of the plug when unplugging lights and appliances. Yanking or tugging on the cord could damage the wires and insulation, possibly leading to an electrical shock or fire.
• Separate outdoor from indoor decorations. Label them accordingly.
• Discard broken or faulty lights.
• Store decorations away from children, pets and water.
• Make sure all electrical lights, toys and appliances bear the seal of a nationally recognized certification agency, such as CSA, Intertek Testing Services or Underwriters Laboratories.
• Don't allow your children to use electrical toys near water and make sure they know that water and electricity never mix. Electrical toys can become a shock hazard if they are misused.
• Send warranty and product registration forms to manufacturers. That way, they can notify you promptly in case of a recall.
• Post-holiday sales are a great time to purchase fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.

• Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry when using power tools.
• Never use power tools near live electrical wires or water pipes.
• Remember, metal ladders conduct electricity. Be aware of power lines and wires.
• Never remove guards from power tools or lawn products. They are there to protect you.
• Outdoor receptacles should be protected with ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI).
• Make sure tools and extension cords are marked for outdoor use.
• Read and follow the manufacturers' instructions when using any product that is power by electricity.

• Use extension cords on a temporary basis, not as permanent wiring.
• Never run any electrical cord under a carpet. If the cord is covered, heat cannot escape, which may result in a fire hazard.
• Do not use extension cords that are cut or damaged. Touching even a single exposed strand can give you an electric shock or burn.
• Never use three-prong plugs with outlets that only have two slots for the plug. Don't cut off the ground pin to force a fit. This defeats the purpose of a three-prong plug and could lead to an electrical shock. Also, never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn't fit.
• A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) can be plugged or installed into an outlet to protect against electrical shock. GFCIs are products designed to prevent serious injury or death from electrical shock by detecting ground faults at very low levels.

• Make sure there are sufficient wall outlets in the office so you don't have to use extension cords. If you have to use an extension cord, make sure it is rated for the products to be plugged in.
• Never keep an extension cord plugged in when not in use. The cord will still conduct electricity until it is unplugged from the outlet.
• Use correctly wired, three-prong electrical outlets. This assures the equipment is grounded.
• Do not overload the electrical circuits. Check your breaker/fuse box to determine which outlets are on the same circuit. Never plug in electrical products that, when their wattage use is combined, draw more than 1,500 watts from the same circuit.
• Use a voltage surge suppressor to protect against hardware damage or loss of data from electrical surges. In a lightning storm, unplug your computer directly from the wall outlet. A surge suppressor will not protect an electrical product from a lightning strike.
• If there is a blackout while your are working on your computer, turn the computer off. Otherwise, when the power goes back on, a voltage spike could damage your equipment.

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative - Copyright 2002