Community Corner

Stay Safe Around Electricity

May is National Electrical Safety Month. Southern California Edison provides some tips for staying safe around electricity.

Electric utility officials reminded residents to be aware of electrical hazards this month and urged a healthy respect for electricity.

According to Southern California Edison, May is National Electrical Safety Month.

According to Edison and the Electrical Safety Foundation International, 51,000 fires involving electrical failure or malfunctions in homes annually injure more than 1,400 people nationwide.

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Those fires cause more than $1.3 billion in property damage annually, officials said, and nearly 400 people are electrocuted.

Sgt. Marc Saunders of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Walnut/Diamond Bar station also advised residents during a city-sponsored emergency preparedness presentation Wednesday to look out for and be aware of above-ground power lines that could become a hazard in a natural disaster.

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“We’re pleased to be part of the national effort to raise awareness about potential work and home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety,” said William Messner, SCE acting director of Corporate Environment, Health and Safety.

“We have a tremendous reliance on electricity," William Messner, SCE acting director of Corporate Environment, Health, and Safety said. "But we should be aware of its hazards and how to be safe around it.”

SCE recommends these simple safety rules:

  • Put plastic safety caps in unused wall outlets to prevent children from pushing objects into outlet openings.
  • Never remove the third prong from a three-pronged plug. The third prong grounds electricity. If you don’t have three-hole outlets, adapters are available at the hardware store.
  • Repair or replace damaged or brittle electrical cords. They can cause shorts, shocks or electrical fires. Check appliances to make sure cords are in good condition.
  • Use electrical cords properly. To avoid damaging cords, remove them from outlets by pulling the plug, not the cord. Never attach a cord to another surface with nails or staples, which can break the insulation. Avoid kinking, twisting, binding or walking on cords.
  • Use ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, to protect yourself from shock. These special outlets prevent electric shock by detecting electrical faults and shutting off electricity to the outlet when necessary. They are especially important in kitchens, bathrooms and other places where water is present.
  • Keep water away from electricity and electrical appliances.
  • Know how to safely care for and replace fuses and how to reset circuit breakers.

Information on electrical safety can be found at www.sce.com/safety.


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