If you are ever unsure about how to fix your electrical situation, please call an electrician…
Current passing through your body can cause electric shock, resulting in 3 types of potential injuries:
- Burns (arcs burn with heat & radiation)
- Physical injuries (broken bones, falls, & muscle damage)
- At 10 mA, the muscles clamp on to whatever the person is holding.
- Nervous system effects (stop breathing at 30 to 75 mA alternating current at 60Hz, fibrillation at 75 to 100 mA at 60Hz)
- Fibrillation = heart is “twitching” and there is no blood flow to the body.
The heart can be damaged because it is in the path of the most common routes electricity will take through the body:
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THE BASICS
Cords, extension cords, & plugs
- Pull the plug, not the cord, and when disconnecting an electrical device.
- Never remove a plug when your hands are wet, or if you’re touching a metal object.
- The third prong of a plug exists for safety reasons. Do not break it off or bypass it.
- Use only three-pronged extension cords outdoors.
- Keep cords away from sources of heat and water.
- Cords and plugs that show signs of wear or damage need to be replaced. Stop using them immediately.
- Do not place a cord under a carpet, through a doorway, or anywhere that it could be stepped on.
- Always use extension cords that are properly rated for the amount of electricity you’ll be using.
- Extension cords are intended for temporary use. If you need a permanent solution, call an electrician.
- Coil up excess cord length and keep the coil intact with plastic ties or Velcro straps.
- Use a certified power bar if you need to plug multiple items into an outlet.
Electrical devices, appliances, & power tools
- Unplug the toaster before prying out that stuck toast.
- Unplug your electrical gadgets when they’re not in use.
- Keep your electrical devices away from sources of water.
- If you use an electric lawnmower, only cut the grass when it’s dry and never when it’s raining.
Power lines and transformer boxes
- If you need to prune or remove a tree near a power line or a ground-level transformer box, call BC Hydro first.
- When using a ladder, keep it away from overhead power lines. Only use ladders on stable surfaces, and have someone hold the ladder when you’re on it.
