Electrical Safety in the Home

• Use outlets with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) in bathrooms, garages, near kitchen sinks and outdoors. These devices prevent serious shock. They can be added as temporary adapters if necessary.
• Keep appliances away from bathtubs, puddles, sinks, and wet hands. Always unplug an appliance before cleaning. Even if turned off, it can shock.
• Never overload an outlet with multiple appliances.
• Use only appliances approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratory.
• If small children visit you, put safety covers on all electrical outlets within their reach.

If you use a home generator to produce electricity, be sure to have appropriate safety equipment interfacing the connection between your power source and the linemen who may be servicing the commercial power supply to your residence or building.

Safety boxes such as the Gen/Tran unit could save the life of a utility worker by preventing power feedback to utility lines. (NOTE: This is not an endorsement of a particular product. This is an example of safety products of this nature on the market.)

And... before you dig....
Call your electric utility, gas, cable, and phone companies to locate underground lines. Most areas have a one-call number for this purpose.

Electrical Power Safety

Shock
Don't touch anyone in contact with a power source. Instead, unplug equipment or cut power at the control panel.

Fallen Power Line
NEVER touch a fallen power line, or anything or anyone in contact with it. If someone is in a car that is touching fallen lines, do not touch them or the car -you could be shocked. If a power line hits your vehicle, stay inside, warn others away, and wait for rescue personnel. If you must get out, jump clear without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time, and shuffle away.

Electrical Fire
If electrical equipment catches fire, unplug it, or interrupt power at the main switch. Tell the fire department it's an electrical fire. If it's small, use a multipurpose fire extinguisher. If you doubt you can put it out, leave and take everyone with you. Remember, never use water on an electrical fire.

First Aid
Once a victim is no longer in contact with electricity, call for medical help and check the following:

• Breathing:
  Use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if needed.
• Shock:
  Signs include cold or clammy skin, weakness, shallow breathing, rapid pulse. Loosen clothing. Keep victim horizontal and warm until help arrives.
• Burns:
  Cool minor burns with cold, running water. Don't touch the burn, break blisters, or remove burned clothing. Get medical help: electrical burn damage may not be immediately apparent.

In an electrical emergency, stay calm and think before you act. Don't become a victim while helping. Call for help.