Electric shocks, electrocution and burns, which cause more than 12,000 injuries a year in the U.S.,
happen when electricity uses your body as a path to its ultimate destination—the ground (see The Electrical Circuit and How It Can Affect You).
As the electricity passes through you, it can do grave harm, burning tissue and
even stopping your heart. And it doesn't take much to do a lot of damage.
In fact, folks have been killed by shocks from as little as 60 milliamps, the amount of electricity it takes to light a Christmas tree bulb.
To help protect yourself and your loved ones from electrical shocks or burns:
1. Never yank, twist or severely bend electrical cords or carry appliances by their cords.
This can cause the appliance wires to fray, which might lead to electrical shocks or burns, as well as fires.
2. Never use an appliance that has a frayed, smashed or broken cord.
(Wrapping a frayed cord with electrical tape might help protect you against being shocked or burned,
but it probably will not prevent the possibility of an electrical fire. See Preventing Electrical Fires.)
3. Never remove the third prong of an electrical plug. This is the ground wire,
which helps protect you against shock should the appliance ever short-circuit.
4. Install GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlets in your home or business and use GFCI adapters—especially in bathrooms
and kitchens or other places where electrical appliances might be used near water or in damp conditions. GFCIs can detect imbalances
in the amount of electricity flowing through an appliance (which might indicate some electricity has
"jumped its circuit" and taken an alternate route—possibly through you) and will shut off power to the appliance.
5. Do not touch electrical appliances with wet hands or cleaning rags unless the appliances are unplugged.
6. Keep electrical appliances away from water. Pools, tub surrounds, and counters next to kitchen or bathroom sinks are not
appropriate places for radios, hair dryers, curling irons, toasters, or other plugged-in appliances.
7. Never stick anything into an outlet, except a properly working electrical plug.
8. If you have young children in the home—even as visitors—equip your outlets with child safety
plugs to prevent curious youngsters from sticking their fingers or other items into unused outlet openings.
9. Never stick knives, forks, screwdrivers or other items inside toasters
or other electrical appliances unless the appliances are unplugged.
10. Keep away from outdoor power lines. Many of these lines are uninsulated and any contact with them—either direct or indirect—can be fatal.
When working in the yard, be sure to maintain a safe distance between power lines and ladders, rakes and other long tools.
You do not actually have to touch a power line to be shocked by it. Electricity can jump
(arc) from a nearby wire to you (or to the ladder or tool you are carrying).
11. Do not climb trees that are located near overhead lines (read #10 to see why).
12. Fly kites only in open fields far from overhead lines. If a kite should become entangled
in a power line, call CWLP immediately 217.789.2121. Do not attempt to retrieve it yourself.
13. Before digging in your yard, call JULIE (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators) at
811 or 800.892.0123 to find out where underground electrical (and other) services are buried.
You need to allow 48 hours for the locations to be marked.
14. Always turn off a tool or appliance before unplugging it.
15. Never enter an electrical substation or tamper with a pad- or pole-mounted transformer.