1	Electrical Safety In and Around the Home
2	Electrical Safety In and Around the Home Developed by: American Burn Association Burn Prevention Committee
3	Fire and Burn Death and Severe Burn Injury Deaths 4,000 deaths a year from fire and burns Injuries 25,000 severe injuries admitted to burn centers 600,000 burn injuries treated in hospital ED’s
4	Incidence of Severe Electrical Injury 1,000 Annual Admissions to Burn Centers Workers Toddlers Older children Do-it-yourselfers
5	Electrical Burn Injury Topics Main causes Special risks to toddlers, older children Prevention Immediate first aid response
6	Electricity Dominates Our Lives
7	Wall Switches and Outlets
8	Small Investment, Big Lifesaver
9	Testing a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
10	Outlet Locations Needing GFCI Protection Kitchen counter top Bathroom Near a wet bar sink Swimming pool, spa, hot tub All outdoor receptacles Work area Garage Crawl space Unfinished room in basement or storage area
11	Special Note for Pre-1970 Construction Homes built before 1970 and not renovated may lack GFCI protection An electrician should check such homes and install GFCI protection where needed
12	Capacity Issue: Overloaded Electrical Outlets
13	Capacity Issue: Approved Power Strips
14	Capacity Issue: Circuits and House Service
15	Extension Cord Safety
16	Extension Cord Safety Inside the Home Use on temporary basis only Keep unplugged when not in use Keep slack: don’t stretch tight Do not place across doorways, in heavy traffic areas, under rugs Do not staple or nail to wall Do not alter a 3-prong plug to accommodate a 2-hole outlet
17	Check Cords and Plugs for Hazards
18	Unplug Appliances at the Plug, Not By Its Cord
19	Check Lamps and Light Fixtures for Bulb Wattage Recommendations
20	Your Kitchen: Haven or Hazard?
21	Keep Appliances Away from Water on a Dry Surface While in Use
22	Remember… Water and Electricity Don’t Mix
23	Heating Pad and Electric Blanket Hazards
24	Outdoor Household Electrical Safety Assure power source is GFCI-protected Use proper extension cords Practice handling equipment before connecting to power source Never use in wet conditions
25	Outdoor Extension Cord Safety Do not use “indoor” cords outdoors Determine needed length and cord gauge Store all cords indoors when not in use
26	Avoid Severing Outdoor Extension Cords
27	Look UP and Live
28	Call Before You Dig!
29	Call Before You Dig. Don’t Get Burned.
30	Preventing Electrical Injuries to Children Create and maintain a child-safe environment Begin early to make children understand the dangers of electricity
31	Precautions for Toddlers
32	Preventing Electrical Injuries to Children Typical electrical cord burn
33	Protecting Children from Electrical Outlets
34	Protecting Children from Electrical Outlets
35	Electrical Safety Messages For Older Children Use electrical appliances safely – away from water or wet areas Keep metallic balloons indoors Pay special attention to outdoor hazards
36	Avoid Power Lines Never attempt to retrieve any item from an overhead wire Keep kites and balloons away from power lines Climbing trees near a power line is doubly hazardous
37	Don’t Play Near Ground Transformers
38	Stay Away from Electrical Substations Respect the extreme danger of electric current passing through substations and transformers Respect their “Warning: High Voltage” signs and stay away
39	Emergency Care of Electrical Burns Protect yourself first Don’t be the next victim Don’t touch patient until the power is off If you are unsure how to turn power off, wait for qualified help to arrive Never use water on an electrical fire
40	When the Injured Person is Safely Away from and No Longer in Contact with Electricity Assess airway, breathing and circulation If the person is not breathing or has no pulse start CPR and call 9-1-1 Continue CPR as needed before focusing on the burn injury
41	If the Person is Conscious and Breathing Stop the burning process; cool with water Call 9-1-1 In high voltage injuries, do not move patient, to limit potential damage from fractures Remove jewelry and constrictive clothing Cover the person and keep warm until emergency personnel arrive
42	Why Electrical Burns Always Need Medical Care Electric current strongest at contact points Contact points do not predict scope of damage to underlying tissue Contact can make heart beat irregularly or stop Injured patient may need cardiac monitoring
43	Conclusion All electrical injuries are potentially severe and should be seen by a physician Most electrical injuries around the home are preventable Always use proper care when using electrical appliances
44	Be Aware! Always be careful when using electricity