In one year alone 220 people were electrocuted in and around the home and electrical residential fires claimed another 700 lives. Every day a person dies in an electrical accident and every day families lose their homes to electrical fires. The tragedy for all victims of electrical accidents is that they are preventable. We urge consumers to look around their homes and correct electrical hazards. In addition, about 3,000 people are treated for injuries associated with extension cords.
Most people take electricity for granted.
Electricity is a useful convenience that enhances our lives and homes. Too often, we tend to forget that electricity is a powerful energy source that must be treated with care and respect. With May being National Electrical Safety Month this is a good time to reacquaint ourselves with some basics, such as reading the use and care instructions and safety tips provided with electrical appliances, paying attention to all safety markings on electrical equipment, and checking every power cord to make sure it isn't damaged. These are simple things to do, but they are important for the safety of you and your family. Consumers can get plugged into electrical safety and help protect themselves from electrical accidents by taking a few minutes to check their homes for unsafe conditions.