The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-20

It is surprising to those famil- far with fire and shock hazards, that people will continue to use cords, which are so badly worn as to have exposed conductors. Such conditions often exist, however, due to lack of knowledge, chiefly, of the hazards involved.
 Before cords become worn, 1t is highly advisable to have them re- ploced. Flexible cords should not take the place of permanent wiring and should be removed If attached to base-boards, sidewalks, ceilings, etc. Substitute wiring, properly installed.
 The fuse, is the safety valve of the electrical system; because of the very important function, that fuses have to serve.
 They should never be tempered with, or their purpose will be defeated. Tampering with fuses is like putting a clamp on the safety valve of a steam boiler; if the fuse fails to operate, the wires may become hot enough to ignite the insulaton, possibly causing a fire.
 Most house circuits are wired with No. IA wire, and current carrying capacity should be 10 Amperes.
 It seems hardly necessary to warn against leaving electric flat irons connected to the circuit, but overheated flatirons have been responsible for more fires than any other electric appliance. Most of these fires occur when the op- orator has left home, without dis connecting the iron. Sometimes such fires are caused by connect ing irons to sockets, at the end of pendant cords, controlling the iron with the key, or pull chain switch in the socket, or by a wall switch. when one thinks he Is turning tht indications to show when the cur- rent is on or off; and sometimes when one things he is turning the iron off, he turns 1t on.
 The surest way to turn the iron off is to disconnect the cord.
 Lamp sockets should not be used to supply electric irons.
 The switching mechanism in such sockets is designed for the purpose of controlling lamps, for home use, which seldom exceeds 200 watts. Electric irons requires from 600 to 1000 watts.
 Wires and fixtures are designed for supplying lamp bulbs, and are too small a capacity to properly supply appliances.
 Electrical toys, like all other electrical devices are safe, If they are well made, and kept in good condition.
 Parents should subject electrical toys to a careful inspection from time to time, to see that they are in good order.
 Attention, should be given to the condition of the cords, espe- cially If these are of the sub. Stan- dard tye. If the electrical parts of the toys are injured, they should be repaired or discarded.
 If Christmas trees lamps, do not fit well into the sockets, 1t may be possible for tiIlsel or other metal decorations, to make contact be- tween two sockets and cause a short circuit.
 Before buying 0 Christmas tree set, screw lamp into one socket, and observe, whether hanging tin- sel could make contact with live parts of the socket or lamp.
 If metal refiectors are used-see that the metal foil of the rehec- tors is well insulated from the metal of the socket and lamp base.
 Electric lamps for Christmas trees, have greatly eliminated very serious fire hazards, because they are very few decorations with can- dies. For this reason, their use should be encouraged, but care should be exercised to select only sets, approved by fire underwrit- CTS.
 Tn case of emergency-throw the main switch, and call the lighting company or the electrical inspec- ton department.
 MANY CCAIATnDC