Today’s Fire Prevention Week Tip: Be fire smart with electricity in your home

Flipping a light switch, plugging in a coffeemaker, charging a laptop computer — these are second nature for most of us. Electricity helps make our lives easier but there are times when we can take its power and its potential for fire-related hazards for granted. Electrical fires can be caused by an equipment malfunction, an overloaded circuit, or an overheated appliance such as a washer, dryer or space heater.
 
Here are simple tips that will help you and your family reduce the potential for electrical fire danger and damage.
 
 Safety Tips:

• Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately, and do not run cords under rugs or furniture.
• If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
• Immediately shut off, then professionally replace light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.
• Don’t overload circuits or outlets.
• Only use one heat-producing appliance (such as a coffee maker, toaster, space heater, etc.) plugged into a receptacle outlet at a time.
• Major appliances (refrigerators, dryers, washers, stoves, air conditioners, microwave ovens, etc.) should be plugged directly into a wall receptacle outlet. Extension cords and plug strips should not be used.

 
Find more electrical safety tips at: ow.ly/ZOfkE