Electricity Dos and Don'ts

DO

• Crawl around your house for a child's-eye view of potential hazards.
• Place safety covers on all unused outlets.
• Replace -- never tape -- cracked or frayed cords.
• Install ground-fault circuit interrupters -- designed to switch off power if they detect changes in electrical current -- on any outlet that could be exposed to water, such as in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Place furniture in front of outlets to keep them out of your child's sight.
• Use cord covers to tuck loose electrical cords against a baseboard so children can't pull, chew, or trip on them.
• Know where your home's fuse boxes and circuit breakers are and how to turn them off in an emergency.

DON'T

• Use extension cords as permanent substitutes for too few outlets.
• Overload an extension cord with more appliances than it is designed to accommodate.
• Keep appliances close to the sink or tub, where they could accidentally fall into the water.
• Run electrical cords under rugs. Walking over cords could fray or damage them.
• Allow electrical cords to hang off countertops, where a child might pull them.

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