| Fire agency launches an effort on electrical safety |
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| NFPA report shows electrical fires, failures and malfunctions account for 53,600 fires nationwide annually |
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has declared May National Electrical Safety Month, with the launch of a new electrical safety initiative. "You could say that electricity practically runs our lives, yet most people are unaware that electrical problems are factors in nearly 150 home fires each day," said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of communications. "Electricity is a leading cause of home fires, but there are things that people can do to avoid these fires." According to NFPA's newly released report on electrical fires, electrical failures or malfunctions result in an average of 53,600 home fires each year. These fires cause more than 500 deaths, injure 1,400 people and account for $1.4 billion in property damage. The NFPA recommends that homeowners use the following safety tips to avoid an electric fire or shock: - Be sure that the bulbs in your lights match what is safe for the lamp. There should be a sticker that indicates the maximum wattage for the light bulb. - Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage or heat-producing appliance (such as a coffee maker, toaster, space heater, etc.) into an outlet at a time. - Buy only appliances that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory. - Replace cracked and damaged electrical cords. - Avoid using power strips. Instead, consider having additional circuits or plugs added by a qualified electrician. - Test the ground fault circuit interrupters (GFIs) in your home once a month. GFIs are a special type of electric outlet designed to shut off an electrical circuit when it becomes a shock hazard. A GFI should be used in any area where water may come in contact with electrical products. Your home should have GFIs in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, basement, garage, and outdoor areas. If a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips often, find out why and correct the problem. Replace fuses with the correct amperage rating for the circuit they protect; never replace a fuse with a higher rated fuse. If the problem continues, call an electrician. Also, call an electrician or your landlord at once if you have: a tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance; discolored or warm wall outlets; a burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance; flickering or dimming lights; or sparks from an outlet. For more information, visit the Web site www.nfpa.org/safeandenergized. |