Avoiding Electric Shock

Electricity has become so common in American homes; it fuels the things that make our homes fun, comfortable, and safe. It is easy to forget it can be dangerous. Since AirPro Houston cares about your safety, we want to provide some basic information to help you avoid electric shock.

The qualified electrical technicians at AirPro Houston receive extensive training, pass through rigorous testing and have years of experience. We are dedicated to completing repairs and maintenance safely and getting it right the first time. Our goal is to avoid exposing your family members to dangerous electrical shocks and burns. Here are some things to help you avoid these same dangers.

What is electric shock?

An electric shock is the effect of an electric current flowing through the human body. Its effects can range from pain, muscular contractions, and difficulty in breathing, to burns, cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, or death. The severity of the shock generally depends on the amount and duration of the current, and the path the current takes through the body.

Sometimes victims of electric shock may appear to be unhurt, but they should still be treated as a victim of electric shock. Some injuries and further complications may not yet be obvious. An examination in a hospital is important after any electric shock.

The damaging aspect of electricity is amps, not voltage. Unless you understand what that means, it doesn’t help much, so to be clear—common household current has the potential to be harmful and/or deadly.

Mistakes That Lead to Electrical Shock

• Frayed or damaged extension cords or appliance cords
• Missing cover plates on light switches and wall outlets
• Failing to unplug a device before exposing the electronic parts
• Failing to disconnect electricity to a circuit before working on it
• Situations involving water and electricity in close proximity

10 Tips That Might Just Save Your Life

1. Don’t plug or unplug anything electrical when there is water present. Typical shoe soles are too thin and not of the right material to provide adequate insulation. Also, moisture, dirt, or body sweat in the soles will compromise the little insulating value the shoe may have had.
2. Have a qualified electrician replace incorrect or deteriorated household wiring.
3. Be aware of the power lines around your home and the power main bringing electricity into your home. Children should not play in areas close to power mains (i.e., tree houses) and adults should use great caution with ladders near power mains.
4. Stay away from downed power lines. And remember caution #1 above. Call the power company and keep others away until repairs are made.
5. Replace any two-pronged outlets in your home with three-pronged grounded outlets. Outdoor, bathroom, kitchen, and garage outlets should be GFCI protected.
6. When small children are in the home, insert Tamper Resistant Receptacles (TRR) or plastic outlet covers to prevent injury to loved ones.
7. Keep electrical cords and extension cords out of the reach of small children and pets. Both tend to put everything they find in their mouth.
8. Replace frayed electrical cords or extension cords; be proactive and replace cords when you see the insulation cracked.
9. Don’t overload an outlet or power cord. Plugging too many cords into an outlet will overload the circuit, resulting in sparks or even a fire.
10. Make sure power tools and appliances that draw heavy current are grounded, adding an extra barrier between you and electricity.

We offer these common-sense tips with your safety in mind. If you need help implementing some of these tasks, AirPro Houston can provide electrical repair and maintenance to keep your family and home safe, giving you the peace of mind you deserve.

Avoid Electric Shock

Our four decades of experience as a Houston Electrician and contractor AirPro Houston provides you with the skill and expertise to avoid the dangers of electrical shock.

We have financing options available with great options with up to 72-month terms with approved credit. Call us today at  281-880-8805 and let us partner with you for all of your electrical repair and installation needs.