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Home electrical configuration
The mystery of the third prong
Ground fault circuit interrupters
The old "fork in the toaster" routine
Teach children electrical safety

Safety in the home

Home electrical configuration

Home electrical wiring is composed of a number of loops, or circuits. A "live" wire brings electrical current to an outlet, or a light, and a "neutral" wire returns the current to the source of the electricity. Between the live and neutral wires is the service panel. Most service panels have a main switch which can be used to turn off all electrical flow when one is changing a fuse, or in the case of shock or fire. If one doesn't have a main switch, turn off all the circuit breakers.

The service panel contains fuses or circuit breakers which interrupt power to specific circuits in the event of a short circuit or overload. If this happens, do the following:

Unplug appliances.
Switch off the power at the main switch.
Fuses: Replace the fuse that has a broken metal strip with a new fuse of the same rating -- typically 15 amps.
Circuit Breakers: Switch the circuit breakers that is off to on.
Restore the power.

The Mystery of the Third Prong (return to top)

The purpose of the third prong on certain plugs is to prevent possible electrical injury.

The third prong connects to a "ground wire" inside the outlet. At the service panel the ground wire connects to a water pipe, ground rod, or similar conductor which leads to the ground. In the event of a short circuit, the electricity will flow through the grounding system instead of causing damage to people.

Never remove the third prong.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (return to top)

GFCIs are found in some outlets and service panels, and their purpose is to monitor the flow of current to and from appliances. If there's an imbalance in the flow, the GFCI will quickly cut the power to prevent serious injury under the premise that the current may be traveling through a person. GFCIs should be used in bathrooms, garages, near kitchen sinks, and outdoors.

The Old "Fork In The Toaster" Routine (return to top)

Remember the most important rules for appliances - electricity and water don't mix. Keep appliances, especially hair dryers, away from bathtubs, puddles, sinks, and wet hands. Wet skin increases the risk of shock due to the high conductivity of water, so unplug an appliance before cleaning it. Even if the appliance is turned off, it can still shock.

Never put metal objects in live parts of appliances or in outlets. If an appliance overheats, unplug it and have it checked. Don't overload outlets. Use only appliances that are approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (e.g.: Underwriters Laboratories or U.L.).

Teach Children Electrical Safety (return to top)

Teach children never to put fingers or other objects into an electrical outlet, toaster, or any other appliance, even if it's off. Keep appliances and cords away from children, bathtubs, and sinks. Use plug covers in outlets.

Electricity can travel down the strings of kites or balloons that come into contact with power lines, and this can cause shock or fire. Have children use these toys in open areas, away from overhead lines. Keep metallic balloons indoors, as they are highly conductive. Tell children that if a toy gets into power lines or a substation that they should tell an adult to call the power company, and the child should never retrieve the toy themselves.

Teach children to recognize "Danger - High Voltage" signs and to stay away from power lines, substations, and pad-mounted transformers. Don't let kids climbs trees near power lines.