Contact: Priscilla Knight, 703-392-1580, pknight@novec.com
NORTHERN VIRGINIA – The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative says nearly 55,000 fires caused by electrical fires in the United States each year can be prevented by following safety guidelines during National Electrical Safety Month in May and throughout the year.
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, faulty electrical wiring causes home fires that kill more than 500 people each year, injure more than 1,400, and account for approximately $1.4 billion in property damage.1
ESFI says older homes are at greater risk for electrical fires. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that half of U.S. homes were built before 1973 – before households plugged in computers, high-wattage hair dryers, microwave ovens, and video game boxes.
NOVEC says faulty wiring is not the only hazard. The Co-op warns that unsafe electrical appliances and devices, and their improper use, can shock or electrocute users if they do not heed safety precautions.
Electrical Safety Precautions:
- Look for the Underwriters Laboratories label on all electric devices to make sure they meet UL safety standards.
- Keep all electrical devices in good working condition. If a cord is frayed, have an electrician replace it or buy a new device.
- Don’t piggyback more than two appliances or devices in one outlet.
- Have a working smoke detector on each floor of the house.
- Make sure all bathrooms and kitchens have ground fault circuit interrupter outlets. GFCIs usually — but not always — detect electrical faults and shut off electricity to the circuit before a device user is seriously harmed.
- Have an electrician inspect an older home’s wiring and make a recommendation about installing arc fault circuit interrupters. An AFCI can detect a dangerous condition in a home’s wiring and cut off power to the circuit before a fire develops. • Inspect electrical plate covers. Warm or discolored covers may indicate faulty wiring that might catch on fire.
- To protect small children, have an electrician install tamper-resistant receptacles, which have a built-in shutter system that prevents children from inserting foreign objects into the slots. ESFI says these outlets will prevent most of the 2,400 burns children get each year from outlets.
- Never use an electric hair dryer or curling iron near a wet shower, sink or bathtub or while standing on a wet or damp floor. Keep radios and televisions away as well. If a device falls into water, unplug the device before removing it.
- Unplug hair dryers, curling irons, hot rollers, electric razors, irons, and power tools when not in use.
- To be on the safe side when using electrical devices while standing on concrete, wear rubber-soled shoes that will not conduct electricity.
