TOP 5 ELECTRICAL SAFETY May is National Electrical Safety Month

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, thousands of people in the U.S. are critically injured or electrocuted as a result of electrical fires and accidents in their own homes. Many of these accidents are preventable.

Electricity is a necessity, and it powers our daily lives. But at Baldwin EMC, we know first-hand how dangerous electricity can be because we work with it 365 days a year. We also know that from our co-op crews to you, the members we serve, everyone has a part to play in prioritizing electrical safety.

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and it's a good time to recruit everyone in your household to do a bit of safety sleuthing. If something is popping, sizzling or causing a suspicious odor, chances are you’ll spot the hazard. However, there are some electrical dangers that might be going unnoticed in your home, posing a risk you won't observe until it’s too late.

“The good news is the hazards that lead to home fires and other unsafe situations can usually be eliminated,” says Shane Ellison, Baldwin EMC’s manager of safety, loss control and facilities. “All it takes is an investment of time and a welltrained eye.”

Although every home is different, pay close attention to these five electrical culprits that can cause unsafe conditions in your home.

For more electrical safety information, visit Baldwin EMC's electrical safety page at www.baldwinemc.com/safety.

1 2 3 4 5

Are your outlets overloaded?

If you’re overloading electrical outlets at home, it’s probably time to call a licensed electrician to install additional outlets. Overloaded outlets can create fire hazards.

Test your smoke alarms regularly.

When was the last time you tested smoke alarms in your home? Test them every month to ensure they’re working properly.

Do you have GFCI's and AFCI's installed?

GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) and AFCIs (arc fault circuit interrupters) should be installed on outlets. They're designed to stop the flow of electricity to outlets when they detect an electrical hazard. GFCIs, in particular, should be installed anywhere an outlet may come into contact with water, such as in kitchens and bathrooms.

Check your cords.

Check the cords of the appliances and electronic devices in and around your home, as well as their plugs. Don't use them if they are frayed, cracked or damaged, and don't place them under rugs or carpets, on furniture, or in high traffic areas.

Be careful with bulbs.

Check light bulbs and appliances to make sure the wattage matches fixture requirements. Don't replace bulbs with higher wattage than recommended.