Electrical safety

Electrical Safety FACTS The fourth leading cause of home fires are lighting and home electrical distribution systems. Electrical failure or malfunction is blamed for 50,900 fires resulting in 490 deaths and 1,440 injuries each year. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, extension cords cause an estimated 3,300 residential fires which kill 50 people and injure an additional 27 people each year. The CPSC estimates that electrical extension cord injuries cause about 4,000 hospital emergency room visits with about 13% involving children under the age of 5 each year. Over 30,000 non-fatal shock accidents and 60 consumer products electrocutions occur each year. The top product categories associated with electrocutions are small appliances, power tools and lighting equipment. Injuries and Symptoms of Electric Shock A burn is the most common injury caused by an electric shock but other injuries can include: Death DANGER DANGER Heart attack Muscle pain and contractions Stroke Difficulty Breathing Irregular Heartbeats Headache Unconsciousness Numbness Tingling Paralysis Vision, hearing, or speech problems An electrical accident can also cause clothing to ignite therefore causing burns as well. Severe electrical burns can cause more damage to a person than can be seen by the naked eye. Tips For outdoors, use extension cords and other electrical products made specifically for outside use. Make sure all outdoor electrical wiring is firmly secured but not in a way that damages the electrical insulation. Keep all electrical products and extension cords clear of standing water, snow or flammable items. Do not overload electrical outlets with too many devices as they can cause a fire from overheating. Keep in mind that extension cords are not meant for long-term use. If an electrical product or extension cord has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three slot outlet or cord. Never remove a prong or force a connection to fit a two-slot outlet. When an extension cord in use is hot, unplug it as it may be a sign of overheating. When disconnecting, pull the plug, not the cord itself. Be careful when assisting a victim of an electric shock in order to prevent a second electrical shock. SOURCES https://www.injurylawyer.com/practice-areas/personal- injury/electricshock- injuries/ http://www.esfi.org/resource/outdoor-decoration- safety-tips- 352 http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by- topic/top-causes- offirelelectrical/electrical- safety-in-the-home/outdoor- electrical-safety http://www.ameriburn.org/Preven/ElectricalSafetyEducator'sGuide.pdf http://www.dataspan.com/uploads/pdf/us-consumer- protectionextension- cord- safety- fact-sheet.pdf http://www.esfi.org/resource/holiday-data- and-statistics- 359 THE ROTHENBERG LAW FIRM LLP A PROUD HISTORY OF SUCCESS 800-624-8888 Injury Lawyer.com