ESFI Fire Safety Brochure - Electrical Safety Foundation

Electrical Safety
You can prevent electrical accidents in your home

Follow this advice:

Have your home inspected by a licensed electrician every 10 years; sooner if you experience electrical problems
Know electrical system danger signs, such as flickering lights, blown fuses, and warm or discolored wall plates

Electrical circuit safety:

Don’t overload your electrical circuits. Major appliances (refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.) each need their own receptacle outlets
Plug cords in securely. Don’t use frayed or damaged cords
Use extension cords for temporary use only; if you need these daily, it’s time to get your electrical system upgraded.

Ask an electrician if your home needs an Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)

An arc-fault can happen when electrical devices and wiring are old, damaged, or stressed. More than half of home electrical fires could be prevented each year if AFCIs were installed (Consumer
Product Safety Commission).

Cooking Safety
Cooking is the leading cause of home fires

Prevent cooking fires:

Keep anything that can burn away from your stovetop.
Stay in the kitchen when cooking.
Unplug cooking appliances after use.

GFCI prevent shock and electrocution:

Have GFCI receptacles in your kitchen.
Test them often.

Heating Safety
Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires in the United States

Prevent heating fires

Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heaters.
Place heaters flat on the ground.
Don’t use an extension cord with your heater. Instead, plug it into the wall.
Turn heaters off when you go to sleep or leave the room.
Never use a heater with a damaged cord.

Have Working Smoke Alarms
Every home needs working smoke alarms

Install smoke alarms on every level of your home.
Smoke alarms should be in each bedroom and outside each sleeping area.

Test your home alarms:

Push the test button on each smoke alarm every month.
Replace 9-volt batteries once a year.
Replace them sooner if the smoke alarm chirps (that means low battery power).
If your smoke alarms are 10 years old or older, replace them with new ones.

Keep your smoke alarm working:

If your smoke alarm makes noise when you’re cooking, use a newspaper to fan the smoke away.
never remove the battery from a smoke alarm.

Bring Electrical Safety Home

Make Electrical Safety a Business Priority

Weather the Storm

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