Electric power gives us light and warmth, but without safety precautions, it can also be dangerous. Follow these simple precautions to help insure you and your family’s safety:

• Replace or repair loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices.
• Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.
• In homes with small children, electrical outlets should have plastic safety covers.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.
• Avoid overloading outlets. Consider plugging only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.
• If outlets or switches feel warm, shut off the circuit and have them checked by an electrician.
• When possible, avoid the use of “cube taps” and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle.
• Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn and use bulbs that match the lamp’s recommended wattage.
• Never touch anything electrical when you have wet hands.
• Don’t use electrical appliances such as hair dryers or radios in a wet place or near water.
• If power is lost during a storm, turn off or unplug electrical appliances so that there’s not a power surge when the electricity comes back on.
• If there’s flooding, watch out for water around electrical items, and never use appliances if they’re wet.
• Never play with kites or toy planes near overhead power lines.
• If a toy happens to get caught in a power line, don’t attempt to remove it yourself.
• Never prune trees that are near power lines yourself.