Electrical Safety Awareness Before and After A Storm

You can protect yourself and your household in the event of the cyclones, tornadoes, floods and lightning storms that kill and injure thousands every year if you’re experienced about electrical safety awareness during and after weather disasters.

“After severe weather is gone, electrical hazards can still cause deaths and injuries,” kept in mind Brett Brenner, The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) president. ESFI cautions consumers to be careful of electrical risks connected with downed power lines, portable electrical generators and electrical wiring or devices that have actually been wet.

Electrical Safety Awareness Tips

• Use care when entering flooded areas– whether indoors or out. Immersed outlets, electrical cords, and downed power lines can energize water, positioning a deadly trap.
• Stay away from downed power lines and anything touching them.
• If you see somebody who touches with a downed power line, do not touch the individual. You might end up being the next victim. Call 911.
• Do not drive over downed power lines.
• Have electricians install portable electrical generators to guarantee they meet regional electrical codes and are effectively grounded. Incorrectly set up generators can “backfeed” along power lines and electrocute teams working to recover power.
  Keep the generator dry. Do not operate it in enclosed or partially confined areas. Generators produce fatal carbon monoxide gas.
• Do not overload a generator; follow the maker’s guidelines carefully.
• Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to help prevent electrocutions.
• Do not use electrical wiring or equipment that has been wet. Contact a qualified service repair dealer to recondition electrical devices; a licensed electrician can examine electrical systems.
• To avoid lightning strikes, remain inside your home and far from windows throughout storms.
• During electrical storms, do not utilize corded telephones except for emergency situations.
• Avoid contact with water and plumbing throughout electrical storms.
• If outdoors during severe thunderstorms, relocate to a low point. Stay away from metal items.Don’t forget pets throughout thunderstorms. Dog houses are not safe from lightning. Chained animals can quickly end up being victims of lightning strikes.