Following Up on Fire Prevention Week
Safety Tips from Breton Electric

The week of October 7-13 was Fire Prevention Week, an educational and safety program sponsored each year by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA).  This year, the theme was “It’s Fire Prevention Week – Practice your Escape Plan.”  Along with being sure that your family can get out of your home quickly in case of a fire, the NFPA also stresses the importance of smoke alarms and offers a number of facts and tips to help prevent fires in the first place.

Specifically, the NFPA presents the following information regarding electrical safety and fire prevention:

From 1999-2003, electrical distribution and lighting equipment were involved in an estimated 19,100 reported home structure fires per year. These fires resulted in 140 civilian deaths, 610 civilian injuries and an estimated $349 million in direct property damage per year.

Facts & Figures

·   Fixed wiring, switches, receptacles and outlets account for the largest share (45%) of fires among major types of electrical distribution equipment, and account for the largest share of civilian fire deaths and injuries.

·   Some type of electrical failure is the leading factor contributing to ignition in every group of electrical distribution equipment products except lighting.

·    Extension cord fires outnumbered fires beginning with attached or unattached power cords by more than two-to-one.

Source: Electrical Distribution and Lighting Equipment Involved in Home Structure Fires, by Erin R. Twomey and Marty Ahrens, October 2006.

Safety Tips:

·    Replace or repair loose or frayed cords on all electrical devices.

·    Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.

·    In homes with small children, unused wall sockets and extension-cord receptacles should have plastic safety covers.

·    Consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician so you do not have to use extension cords.

·    Follow the manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.

·   Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.

·   If outlets or switches feel warm, shut off the circuit and have them checked by an electrician.

·    When possible, avoid the use of "cube taps" and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle.

·    Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn and use bulbs that match the lamp's recommended wattage.

 For more educational and life-saving information, see www.nfpa.org. And don’t forget the Daylight Savings ritual of replacing the batteries in your smoke alarms!

Breton Electric is an electrical service and contract company based in Wakefield MA. For additional safety tips, information about reducing energy costs, how to recycle mercury-containing bulbs, and more, see www.bretonelectric.com or call 781-245-0787.