Tag Archives: outlets

General Safety Issues

SAVE YOURSELF FROM ELECTROCUTION WITH SIMPLE PREVENTIVE MEASURES (GUEST POST)

Another valuable lesson on electric safety sent to us by Grace Beckett.

Electricity always finds a way to the earth, and the human body, most often, is an excellent path to earth. Generally electricity is used at a lower voltage to resuscitate a human heart. However, at higher voltages, it has the potential to stop a beating heart and cause cellular damage. The fatality of the current depends on the path it takes in the human body. It causes major destruction to the heart and brain. 

Electric shocks occur when the human body comes in contact with an electricity source. This causes an amount of electric current to pass through the layers of the skin, hair or muscles. If the voltage of these shocks is over 500V, it can cause burns on the skin. Electric shocks higher than 600V can cause cardiac damage, neural damage and finally death due to electrocution in people depending on their resistance capacity. So, avoid electrocution by following simple measures around your house. 

Protect all electrical outlets 

Maximum number of electric shock injuries is caused due to unprotected electric outlets. Children usually insert objects of metal into these objects while they are switched on, and end up hurt. You can try fixing these outlets away from your child’s reach. A safer method would be to protect these outlets with outlet covers available in the market. Never unplug or plug in an appliance when the switch is on. 

Keep an eye on extension cords

If extension cords are frayed or not used properly, they can cause electric shocks. Keep inspecting all the cords around your house for any sign of damage. Make sure that you do not overload any sockets. Do not pull the cord while disconnecting it. Pull the plug from the socket, but only after turning off the switch. 

Keep electric appliances away from water 

People generally have the habit of using blow dryers and other hair styling products in the bathroom. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination and can cause electrocution. So, do not use any electrical appliance in the bathroom or near kitchen sinks. Do not spill water near any electric outlet. Do not use any electrical appliance with wet hands. 

Ensure your circuits are grounded 

Major electric problems occur when high-power appliances and circuits around the house are not grounded. Protect all the circuits by using GFCIs – Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters – that can prevent electrocution. 

Do not be a dare devil 

When there are storms outside, it can result in frequent lightning strikes and loose live power lines around the neighbourhood. Do not be adventurous and walk into a death trap. If you are caught in a storm, look for safe shelter indoors and stay there until the storm passes away. 

What to do when someone is electrocuted 

  • Do not attempt to touch the victim while still being electrocuted
  • Move the victim only if there is a chance for immediate danger
  • Do not attempt to provide first-aid
  • Call for help immediately 

XYZ is an expert with PASS Ltd. They specialise in PAT testing courses, so you can actually book courses online and gain knowledge from them on testing electrical equipment.

General Safety Issues

ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRACTICES FOR INSPECTING AND PROTECTING YOUR HOME (GUEST POST)

We received this very informative article written by Tom Gillece of Gillece Services, and hope you pay attention to this and other posts that have warned us about possible electrical hazards in our homes. pb

A licensed electrician can conduct a thorough electrical inspection of your home to look for possible hazards, signs of damage, proper electrical capacity, and more, to ensure the safety and efficiency of electricity throughout your home. An electrical inspection is important especially in older homes and in cases where the electrical capacity is not great enough to meet the demands of a home’s electrical needs. Having your home inspected and inspecting what you can on your own, as well as taking steps to avoid possible electrical danger, can help to prevent potential electrical damage and fire.

While you may not be a professional, licensed electrician, there are still some basic signs you can look for and rules to follow when it comes to electrical security in your home. Detecting red flags ahead of time and utilizing your electrical connections appropriately can help you to keep your home safe and functioning properly.

What to look for:

Outlets and Switches:

Are your outlets or switches hot to the touch? Or do you notice a tear-shaped dark mark forming above an outlet? If so, you will want to stop immediate use of either. High heat and discoloration could indicate a serious problem with internal electrical wiring. Unplug anything in the outlet and turn off the coordinating switch. Outlet and switch cover plates, as well, should not be cracked or broken, as this could lead to exposed wiring. A professional electrician can fix or replace wall plates in addition to upgrading outlets, if suitable, from two-prong to three-prong outlets.

Power Cords and Power Strips:

Electrical cords need ventilation so that they don’t overheat. This means that cords around your home should not be placed under rugs or on furniture, nor nailed or stapled onto walls. Nails, staples, etc. can damage cords. Extension cords may be a good solution for extending electrical use, but only on a temporary basis. If your home is in need of more outlets or electrical capacity, consult with an electrician to address these problems for a permanent solution that is safer and more sufficient. Power strips fall under the same situation; they only provide more access to one source of electricity rather than increasing the power supply. So there is still a risk of a power surge or shortage occurring, which can lead to damage or fire.

Light Bulbs and Appliances:

Light bulbs and appliances should be used according to directed instructions and with proper size and operation in mind. Light bulbs should not exceed the unit’s wattage requirements in which they are being used. Bulbs should also be firmly screwed into place as loose bulbs can overheat. Other appliances that consistently blow a fuse or cause an electrical shock should be replaced as well as unplugged and turned off if in operation.

For further electrical protection and fire prevention, consider these solutions:

  • Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter:

A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) automatically turns off power to a circuit when any problem or difference in electrical flow is detected. They prevent possible deadly shock that can occur from contact with a leakage current. GFCI’s are recommended for rooms with high water usage such as the bathroom or kitchen, and they should be tested monthly to ensure their operation.

  • Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors:

Each of these detectors is highly important in any home to alert occupants of impending danger. Smoke alarms are recommended to be installed in every bedroom and on every level of a home. It is best if they are all connected so that when one sounds, they all sound. They should be tested monthly and replaced typically every ten years, though sometimes sooner. Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to sound before life-threatening levels of carbon monoxide are reached in a home. They are recommended to be placed in hallways outside of bedrooms or in each of a home’s sleeping areas.

A professional electrician can inspect your home in all areas to address your concerns, provide options and solutions, or to reassure you of your home’s safe electrical condition. Upgrades may be necessary where more electrical capacity is needed or if electrical sources are damaged, outdated, or otherwise unsafe. Both a professional and personal evaluation of your home can help to prevent electrical damage and fire and to keep your home’s electricity secured and sufficient for ongoing use.

Gillece Services has been in business for over 30 years. They’re Pittsburgh’s one-stop-shop for Pittsburgh Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electrical, Indoor Air Quality, Water Quality, and Waterproofing services.

Find out more at http://www.gillece.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

TEN COMMANDMENTS OF KEEPING TODDLERS SAFE

GUEST BLOG

We recently received this informative article from Roxanne Porter (www. nannyjobs.org).  With the holidays coming up, it’s wise to brush up on these suggestions, as some of you will have little visitors, and your house may not be properly “child-proofed.”  For those parents of little ones, these suggestions are to be followed every day, as there is nothing more important than the safety of our children. 

When a child reaches the toddler stage, there are a whole range of precautions that need to be taken into account in order to assure safe play times and places. Here are 10 commandments to bear in mind for keeping toddlers safe while playing.

  1. Secure all Straps and Handles. Toddlers love to reach and grab, so any heavy or dangerous items with straps or handles should be secured out of their reach. Purses, backpacks, pots & pans, or anything that may be grabbed and used to pull an object down on top of a toddler needs to be accounted for.
  2. Keep Unused Rooms Locked. Any room that is not expected to be played in, or that has not been “toddler-proofed” should be locked in order to keep toddlers from wandering in. Just closing doors is not likely to be effective, as toddlers are notoriously curious and prone to exploration.
  3. Employ Baby Gates and Toddler-Latches. Open stairways or passageways into unsecure areas without doors should be blocked with baby gates. Cabinets and drawers that contain potentially dangerous items need to be secured with the types of latches that are meant to keep toddlers from pulling them open.
  4. Secure Electrical Outlets and Cords. Any room that a toddler may play in should have all electrical outlets covered, and all electrical cords secured in such a way that they can’t be chewed on or unplugged. Also, be aware that electrical cords can be used to pull a lamp or other appliance off of a table. It’s a good idea to get down on the floor and inspect the entire room from toddler level, in order to assure that all electrical sources are inaccessible.
  5. Cover or Remove Sharp Corners. All furniture or decorative items in a toddler’s play room should be examined for sharp corners and edges that may be fallen against or that may be at a level to injure a toddler’s head. Look underneath tables, plant stands, etc., for metal brackets or screws that may project and be hazardous to a child that crawls or walks under them.
  6. Remove Hinged Toy Box Lids. Toy boxes should be open, or with covers that may be removed and set aside. Hinged lids pose a danger in two ways; the possibility of slamming shut on tender fingers or the head of a child looking in the box, and the chance that a child might crawl inside and be trapped when the lid falls shut.
  7. Secure all Bathrooms. Bathrooms are full of things that can be dangerous to toddlers. Toilets and bathtubs are potential drowning hazards for curious children, cleaning utensils are likely to have chemical or bacteria residues, and cleaning products are usually toxic.
  8. Beware of Choking/Poison/Burn/Laceration Hazards. Any room that is meant for child’s play needs to be closely inspected for anything that a child might put in his or her mouth and present a danger of choking or poisoning. Fireplaces and stoves should be blocked off from toddlers, and anything that may present a danger of puncture or laceration wounds should be removed. Outside play areas should be inspected just as thoroughly.
  9. Inspect/Secure Sandboxes Before Play. Sandboxes should be covered when not in use, but should also be inspected before a child is allowed access for play. Small animals such as cats may find them handy for waste elimination duties, or, depending on where you live, potentially dangerous creepy-crawlies could find them a comfortable place for hiding.
  10. EYES ON! Although all of the first 9 listed here are important, this is the most important commandment of all when it comes to safe toddler play. Keep eyes on the child, and ears tuned in the small moments when you might lose sight of a child. They move fast, and disasters can happen as quickly as the time it takes to send a brief text message to a friend.

Keep these 10 commandments in mind, and you will reduce the chances for a toddler in your care to be injured. An eleventh commandment would be to always keep a phone handy for a 911 call, as even the most meticulous attention to the commandments above is not going to assure 100% safety for toddlers.

I would like to add two more suggestions: be sure your parked car doors are locked.  Toddlers love to try to get inside the car and play.  Be sure to lock the doors when you park your car and remind your visitors to, as well.  Getting out of a hot car may be more difficult than getting into one.  Also, keep a first aid kit handy; you never know when you might need it!

Thank you, Roxanne, for these reminders.  You can read more excellent information on child safety at http://www.nannyjobs.org/blog.