Now is a great time to reexamine your surroundings and determine what preventive measures you can put into place, As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Keep an eye out for home hazards
Any of these may indicate that your home electrical system needs to be updated or repaired:
- Frequent blown fuses
- Dim or flickering lights
- Sparks or sizzling sounds in outlets or walls
- Overheated plugs, cords or switches
- Smells of something burning or rubbery smells
- Frayed wires
- Feeling a mild shock or tingle when you plug in an appliance
Educate children about the dangers of electricity
Children should:
- Never stick their fingers or any objects into light sockets or electrical outlets
- Never touch damaged electric cords
- Never touch anything electrical while wet or standing in water
- Never fly kites or balloons near power lines
- Never touch or come in contact with a downed power line
- Never play on or around pad mounted transformers
- Never enter an electric substation
Printed in Wood County Electric Cooperative Newsletter, May 2015