There’s no doubt that electricity makes our lives easier. Advances in technology have enabled us to automate many manual household tasks, and electricity makes others easier, 快, 也更有趣. 然而, it’s dangerous to take electricity’s power and potential for fire-related hazards for granted, which is why we’ve compiled this list of tips to keep your home – and family – safe.
电气火灾统计
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home fires involving electrical distribution and lighting equipment most often originate in a bedroom (17% of total), 阁楼或天花板（12%）, or a wall assembly or concealed space (9%). Approximately one-quarter (24%) of these fires occur between midnight and 8 a.m., but these fires accounted for 60% of deaths.
Faulty or damaged wiring and related electrical equipment cause 69% of electrical fires, 其次是灯, 灯具, 绳子, 插头, 变形金刚, 和其他电源. (National Fire Protection Association)
从哪里开始
There are a number of simple ways to protect yourself from the dangers of electrical fires in your home, many of which cost nothing to implement. 这里只是一些例子.
- Unplug small electrical appliances when not in use. This will also protect your appliances from power surges and other electrical mishaps.
- Observe wattage limits on 灯具. LEDs are a great way to light up a room without wasted heat energy.
- Don’t overload electrical outlets, and make sure large appliances are plugged directly into a dedicated outlet – not an adapter or extension cord.
- Inspect extension 绳子 regularly and discard any that are damaged. And never run extension 绳子 under carpets or rugs.
- Keep electric tools and appliances away from water and be sure that outlets near a water source are ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). These can quickly shut off power to the outlet when a short circuit is detected.
- Keep 绳子 tidy when not in use. Not only are loose 绳子 a tripping hazard – they’re also more likely to get damaged. This is particularly important in homes with pets and small children.
- Install safety caps on outlets to protect young children; teach older children how to properly unplug devices by grasping the plug – not the cord.
- Be sure that any unbranded electrical devices or 绳子 carry the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label, which ensures they comply with OSHA safety standards.
- Consider employing some relatively low-cost equipment around the house to protect yourself and the ones you love, 比如电涌保护器, ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI), 还有智能插头.
- Test smoke detectors regularly and replace batteries as recommended by the manufacturer. 电al fires often smolder before breaking into flames.
For those who rely on electrical-powered medical equipment, even a brief interruption in the power supply can be catastrophic. If a member of your household relies on electrically operated life-support systems, we encourage you to fill out a 医疗警报表格 so we can alert you to planned outages and better assist you during unplanned service interruptions.
Unitil employees undergo comprehensive training and have the certifications and experience needed to handle these situations. We are available to answer any questions about the safety of your energy services and provide emergency services 24 hours a day, 一周七天.
关键外卖:
- Kids can learn about electrical safety through games, videos, and activities on Unitil’s e-SMART Kids site.
- 电al safety starts with understanding the limitations of your equipment, from light bulb wattage to overloaded circuits.
- December is the most dangerous month for electrical fires, as the winter months call for more indoor activities and an increase in the demand for lighting, 加热, 以及电器使用.
