(NAPS)-Before school starts, students and parents may want to educate themselves about electrical safety.

Many residence halls were built years ago, before students began arriving with computers, CD players, microwaves, refrigerators, wireless telephones, halogen study lamps, fans and fax machines. Often, dorm wiring is simply not designed to handle these electrical loads.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends periodic safety checks by asking the following questions and taking proper precautions:

• Is the appliance cord getting hot and/or are there sparks when you turn something on? Turn the appliance off, unplug it and get it serviced.
• Are the fuses or circuit breakers tripping repeatedly? This could be the sign of a serious problem. Consult with your building supervisor or a licensed, qualified electrical contractor. Never tamper with the fuse or circuit breaker.
• Are there frayed wires, exposed wires or broken insulation anywhere? Broken plugs? Throw away broken or frayed extension cords and have appliance cords replaced.

For more information, send a 60¢ stamped, self-addressed No. 10 (business size) envelope to Electrical Safety Foundation International, 1300 North 17th St., #1847, Rosslyn, VA 22209.