Indoor Electrical Safety

Be alert to signs of electrical problems, such as flickering lights. Problems like this could be signs that your wiring needs to be replaced. If this happens, you should hire a licensed professional to check your electric panel, circuit breakers, fuses, and internal wiring.
Make sure that every family member knows the location of the main fuse or circuit breaker for the residence and understands how to operate it in case of an emergency.
Electrical safety begins with proper wiring. Wiring should be installed and checked by a qualified electrician. Every home should have at least a 200 amp service. All Major appliances should have their own circuits.
All appliances and electrical cords should carry approval of the Underwriters' Laboratory (UL) or some other authorized facility. The cords should be three conductor with a grounded, three-pronged type plug.
Never remove the third prong from a three-pronged plug. The third prong has been included to safely ground electricity. Most power tools and major appliances have three prongs for safety. If you don't have three hole outlets, adapters are available at your local hardware store or home supply center.
Limit the number of appliances plugged into each outlet.
Never disconnect an appliance or tool by pulling the cord; always pull the plug.
Power tools should have heavy duty cords.
Make sure tools, appliances and extension cords to be used outdoors are approved for outdoor use. They are made with heavier wiring, special moisture resistant cords, insulating and three-way grounded plugs.
Check for outlets that have loose-fitting plugs which can overheat and lead to fire. Replace any missing or broken wall plates. Make sure there are safety covers on all unused outlets that are within a child's reach.
Cover all electrical outlets and wall switches with cover plates.
Make sure cords are in good condition-not frayed, cracked or worn. Make sure they are out of traffic area where people could trip over them. Cords should never be nailed or stapled to a wall, baseboard or any other object. Do not place cords under carpets or rugs. Do not rest furniture on cords or place electric cords so that they run through doorways. Also, kinking, twisting, binding, or walking on cords can harm them.
Check to see that extension cords are not overloaded. Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis; they are not intended as permanent household wiring. Make sure extension cords have safety closures to help prevent young children from shock hazards and mouth injuries.
Make sure your plugs fit your outlets. Never remove the ground pin (the third prong) to make a three-prong plug fit a two-conductor outlet; this could lead to an electrical shock. NEVER FORCE A PLUG INTO AN OUTLET IF IT DOESN'T FIT. Plugs should fit securely into outlets. Avoid overloading outlets with too many appliances.
If a cord or plug gets warm, it's overloaded.
Don't leave appliances such as clothes dryers running when you're away from home.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) can help prevent electrocution. When a GFCI senses current leakage in an electrical circuit, it assumes a ground fault has occurred. It then interrupts power fast enough to help prevent serious injury from electrical shock. Test GFCIs monthly according to the manufacturer's instructions to make sure they are working properly. Be sure outlets near water sources, outside outlets, garage outlets and outlets in unfinished basements have GFCIs. These devices are especially important in kitchens or bathrooms. Outdoor electrical outlets should also have weatherproof covers.
Check the wattage of all bulbs in light fixtures to make sure they are the correct wattage for the size of the fixture. Replace bulbs that have higher wattage than recommended; if you don't know the correct wattage, check with the manufacturer of the fixture. Make sure bulbs are screwed in securely; loose bulbs can overheat.
Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct size and current rating for their circuit. If you do not know the correct size, have an electrician identify and label the size to be used. Never bypass or put anything behind an electric fuse and always replace blown fuses with one of the proper size.
Water and Electricity Don't Mix. Don't leave plugged in appliances where they might come into contact with water. If a plugged-in appliance falls into water, NEVER reach in to pull it out even it it's turned off. Unplug it first. If you have an appliance that has gotten wet, don't use it until it's been checked by a qualified repair person. And NEVER use or touch appliances or tools when you're wet, have wet hands, or you're standing in water or on a wet surface. Always use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets in the kitchen and bathroom.
If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker, or if it has given you a shock, unplug it and have it repaired or replaced.
Entertainment/Computer Equipment should be checked to see that the equipment is in good condition and working properly; look for cracks or damage in wiring, plugs, and connectors. Use a surge protector bearing the seal of a nationally recognized certification agency.
In case of an Electrical Fire get help right away. Unplug the faulty appliance or turn off the power, if possible. NEVER throw water on an electrical fire!
NEVER touch a person who is being shocked. Unplug the faulty appliance or turn off the power, if possible. Call for help immediately.
Keep electrical appliances and toys away from water, including: rain, wet ground, swimming pools, sprinklers and hoses.
Lightning is powerful electricity in the air. Knowing what to do during an electrical storm can help keep you safe. Get inside a building, if possible. Keep away from windows and open doors. Don't use electrical appliances or the telephone. Lightning can follow the wires into your home. Stay out of the shower or bathtub. Lightning can travel through the pipes, too. Avoid trees, poles and other tall objects. Also avoid large metal objects. These things are targets for lightning. Go to low ground and crouch down low if you're caught outdoors. Stay out of the water - never go swimming or boating during a storm. If you're in the water, get out as quickly as possible.