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Outdoor Electrical Safety
Outdoor electrical safety is just as important outdoors as it is indoors. When it comes to summertime fun, electrical safety is of all time importance.
Water activities like pools, slip n’ slides, and hot tubs pose a safety threat if not properly managed or maintained.
SJ Electric wants you to have a fun and safe summer by taking the right precautions when it comes to your summer activities.
We wrote this guide for you and your family so you can all have a safe and happy summer
Here is our outdoor electrical guide so you don’t have to worry about electrical issues during summer vacation.
Let’s start with the safety basics before we get into the things to watch for during summer.
1. DO NOT play near or touch a power line – with any part of your body or any other object whatsoever.
You should assume all power lines you see are live and dangerous, so don’t touch! If you see a fallen power line, stay far away and report it as soon as you can.
2. Same goes for utility poles. DO NOT touch, let alone climb or straddle a utility pole.
You should not even go as far as to post a flyer on a utility pole as this can endanger you and any workers working on the pole.
3. This may seem obvious but you may still see it in an old movie from time to time: NEVER throw shoes or articles of clothing up onto power lines.
And yes, that also means never try to retrieve an object that is hanging from a power line. There are safer ways to celebrate during your summer than endangering yourself.
4. Play with kites, model planes and other air toys in wide open spaces like parks or fields where power lines are nowhere in sight to avoid getting anything stuck in a power line.
5. This brings us to our next point, trees.
Kids love to climb trees but they should never climb trees that are too close to power lines; even if the tree isn’t touching a line when you start climbing it, someone’s body weight while they are climbing the tree could cause a branch to touch the line, which would be dangerous.
In fact, if you see that any trees in your yard or neighborhood are too close to a power line, tell your local utility to have them trimmed and/or removed.
6. Watch and heed the weather. Almost 100 people die each year, and another 500 are severely injured from lightning strikes.
If a thunderstorm is coming, go inside and stay indoors until the storm is over.
Around the Home Tips
The most important thing to remember and keep in mind is that water and electricity are a dangerous if not deadly combination. Many of these outdoor electrical safety tips take this into account:
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- Keep all electrical toys and appliances away from the water. This includes but is not limited to pools, hot tubs, jacuzzis, sprinkler systems, sinks, etc.
- Do not touch anything electrical – toy or appliance – if your body or clothes are wet or you’re standing in the water. Electricity traveling through water leads to electrocution!
- Make sure the electrical connections to your outdoor water appliances – pools, hot tubs, jacuzzis – are fully grounded. Our residential electricians can assist you with any questions you have about safe appliance connection.
- Plug in all major appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.) into grounded outlets – this means no extension cords!
- This is a good time to go through your home and check that you have GFCI outlets installed in any potential “wet” areas of your home (bathrooms, kitchens, garages, basements, pool rooms, etc.). These outlets automatically shutoff upon any electrical fault which can save lives and your property.
- In case of an emergency, know where your circuit breaker is and how to safely turn them off.
- Never plug in any appliance that you notice has a frayed or damaged cord.
If you have any questions about our summer electrical safety tips, call us!
And remember to never undertake any home do-it-yourself project that involves your electrical system without first contacting SJ Electric.
Even simple, small jobs like installing new light fixtures, a ceiling fan or a new outlet can be dangerous without the help of an expert, so call us today at (913) 837-3549 to get the help of an expert.
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