Did you know May is National Electrical Safety Month? I've asked Mr. Electric®, one of Mr. Rooter Plumbing's sister companies, for some information we could share with you.
Ashley Munn, the Communications Manager forMr. Electric, is today's guest blogger, and she has some great advice for you and your family.
Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms in the home are one of the best and least expensive means of providing an early warning of a fire. Smoke alarms save lives, prevent injuries, and minimize property damage by alerting you as soon as possible so you can quickly activate your escape plan. The risk of dying from fires in homes without smoke alarms in twice as high as in homes that have working smoke alarms.
Test monthly
Each month, you should test your smoke alarms to ensure that they're functioning appropriately. For instructions on how to test your alarm, refer to the manufacturer's instructions, which should be on the alarm itself. If not, the manufacturer and a serial number should be printed on the alarm. Use these two pieces of information to find testing instructions on the internet.
Replace your batteries
If your smoke alarm is battery-powered (most of them are, but some are tied into the home's electricity) then replace your batteries annually. At the same time you replace your batteries in the smoke alarms, replace those in your carbon monoxide detector as well. Most smoke alarms also function as carbon monoxide detectors, but older models may not.
Check on children
Children, as well as elderly family members, are notorious for sleeping through smoke alarms. Before you exit the house, check in on them to make sure that they have responded to the fire alarm as well.
Location
Smoke alarms should be installed on every level in the home, in each bedroom, and at least one outside sleeping areas.
Kids Safety Checklist
Of all the things you can do to protect your family from electrical accidents, educating your children is the most important. They need to know that water and electricity don't mix well, and as children, they're going to want to know why. The more knowledge they have, the more likely they are to stay safe.
The best way for children to learn is through activities. And they love to be in charge. Print out this safety checklist and go over it with them so they can ensure your home meets all their basic electrical safety guidelines!
| Safety Checklist | SAFE | NOT SAFE |
| Electric outlets are not overloaded with lots of plugs | ||
| Electric cords are in good condition | ||
| Electric cords do not run under rugs or furniture legs | ||
| Electric cords do not run near hot appliances (e.g. toaster, oven, etc.) | ||
| A multipurpose fire extinguisher is kept in the house | ||
| Electrical appliances that can get hot - such as heaters, toasters, and light bulbs - are kept away from flammable materials | ||
| Safety caps are inserted in outlets when small children are around | ||
| Small appliances are turned off and/or unplugged when people leave home | ||
| All extension cords, lights, and appliances used outdoors are labeled for outdoor use |
For more information, you can visit www.MrElectric.com. Here's wishing you a world class day.