Spot the 5 Electrical Dangers

April 12, 2024
Spot the 5 Electrical Dangers Feature Image

In our everyday lives, it’s easy to slack on electrical safety. Many things that seem ‘more convenient’ are actually putting you at an increased risk of electrical malfunction. We’d like to check in on your home safety knowhow with a little game; the following illustration has five electrical dangers. Can you find and name them all?

How’d you do? Check out the answers below, and brush up on your safety knowledge:

1. Devices plugged in near water

It’s common knowledge that electricity and water don’t mix- but it’s especially important to keep this in mind while you’re getting ready to leave the house. It’s times like this that you’re the most likely to forget to unplug an appliance, or set it down somewhere risky. Always be sure to double check!

2. Unattended space heater

Space heaters should never be left plugged in and turned on when you’re no longer in the room. Improper space heater usage leads to about 1,700 house fires every year, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. It’s also important to note that space heaters must always be plugged directly into the wall, and not into a power strip or extension cord.

3. Overloaded extension cord

As convenient as it may seem, you should never plug an extension cord into an extension cord, at risk of overloading your home’s circuits. Additionally, extension cords aren’t approved for continuous long-term use. If you find yourself with too many devices and not enough outlets, you should consider getting additional outlets for reliable convenience.

4. Wires under carpets / in walkway

Wires in your walkways are a hazard, but putting them under a carpet is not the solution. Carpet is not properly insulating, which can result in the wires overheating. Ideally, it’s best to avoid having any wires running across walkways in general. Consider finding different routes for your wires along the walls by using hooks, loop wraps, or fasteners. Alternatively, this is another good reason to invest in additional outlets with better access points.

5. Unattended cooking

Watch that pot! It’s important to stay in the kitchen while you are frying, boiling, grilling, or broiling food. Turn off the stove even if you only leave for a short moment. Keep anything that could catch fire- oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains- away from your stovetop. Unattended cooking is the #1 cause home fires according to the National Fire Protection Association, with kitchen fires accounting for nearly half of all U.S. home fires.