Electrical safety is important. While electricity powers our homes and enables us to enjoy a variety of activities, it can also injure you if you are not careful. CoServ recommends following these tips for safety at home and indoors.

Safety at Home

• Never use a radio, hair dryer or other electrical appliance when you are using the sink or are in the bathtub/shower, and don't touch anything that is electric when your hands are wet.
• If you're standing on a wet floor, never touch a switch or plug anything in (such as a toaster or hairdryer).
• Do not overload outlets with too many plugs and extension cords. Overloading can cause the insulation on the cord to overheat, melt and expose live wires. Live wires can spark and cause a fire.
• Never pull a plug out by the cord.
• Never stick foreign objects or your fingers in an outlet or socket. Do not stick objects like a fork in a toaster or appliance that is plugged in. The fork can act like a conductor and you can receive an electric shock.
• Never leave small appliances or space heaters running unattended.
• Make sure cords are kept away from walking areas so you don't trip and fall.
• If the power goes out, make sure you keep a flashlight handy to find your way around in the dark.

Safety Outdoors

From power lines to power mowers, even a small amount of electricity can hurt you. Electricity is always looking for the easiest path to the ground. The ground can be the earth or it can be something touching the earth, like a ladder.

• Steer clear of transmission and power lines. Make sure you never use a ladder or place a TV antenna or satellite dish near power lines.
• Never allow children to play near substations, transmission or power lines, or climb trees near these lines.
• If you see a power line that has fallen, STAY AWAY! Call the police or power company right away.
• If a power line has fallen on or near your car, stay in the car until help arrives. Tell others that may want to help to stay away and call for help. If you must leave the car because of fire or any other danger, you must JUMP as far as you can with both feet together, then shuffle or roll away from the danger. Electricity can travel through the ground from the line. The voltage becomes less the farther you are away, so if one foot is in a higher voltage zone than the other, you could become a conductor for electricity. Don't ever touch the car and the ground at the same time. That would make you the path to the ground and you will get hurt.
• Don't fly kites near power lines or in bad weather. Electricity or lightening could travel right down the string to you to get to the ground. Never use wire or any metal object on your kite - they conduct electricity.
• Don't stay in a swimming pool or lake, or around trees and poles in bad weather. You could get struck by lightening.
• Always keep radios and other electrical appliances at least 10 feet away from a swimming area. If water splashes on them, they can conduct electricity through the water. Don't touch or go near these appliances when you are wet or standing in water.
• Make sure you use approved outdoor electrical cords or extension cords.
• Never use electric power tools outside around water or in the rain. If someone is using an electric mower or hedge trimmer, make sure you're not watering the lawn or washing your car at the same time. Even insulators on power cords don't always work when wet.
• Never touch electrical machinery like a vending machine if you're standing in a puddle of water or in the rain.
• Never touch electric wires or switches if they are wet.
• Don't fool with meters or other electrical equipment around buildings.
• Wire fences around some buildings and fields may be electrified to protect the building or animals and crops. If you touch the wire, you may get a jolt.
• Always stay clear of anything that says "HIGH VOLTAGE".
• Make sure you call before you dig (1-800-DIG TESS). There could be gas lines and electrical lines running under ground.