Tampa Electric Household Safety

Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance defects, but many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical appliances, incorrectly installed wiring, and overloaded circuits and extension cords. Read more on this factsheet on home electrical fire prevention.

•Don't run electrical cords underneath rugs, carpets or furniture. Stepping on cords can damage them, creating a fire hazard.

•Make sure your electric blanket is in good condition. Look for cracks or breaks in the wiring, plugs or connectors and look for charred spots on both sides of the blanket surfaces. Any of these conditions indicates a potential fire hazard.

•To prevent excessive heat buildup, make sure nothing covers your electric blanket, such as quilts, blankets or pets. Never "tuck in" the sides or ends of your electric blanket. The heating coils may become damaged or bent and may cause a fire.

•Sleeping on a heating pad or electric sheet may cause serious burns even at relatively low settings.

•Fuses and circuit breakers are safety devices located on your electrical panel. Use the correct size fuse for your fuse box. Replacing a fuse with the wrong size fuse can be a fire hazard.

•Appliances, such as a hair dryer, curling iron or toaster, can be potentially hazardous if left plugged in, especially during an electrical storm.

•Electricity and water don't mix. Keep all electrical products and cords, such as radio, TV, hairdryer or curling iron, away from water, including sinks and tubs.

•Never reach into water to get an appliance that has fallen in without first unplugging the appliance.

•Unplug your toaster or toaster oven before using a knife or fork to remove stuck bread or bagels.

•To avoid electric shock during a lightning storm, unplug appliances before the storm hits, and avoid using a phone or fax machine. Remember to unplug unnecessary electrical products when they are not in use.