 Electricity makes life easy
and convenient for us. We have it literally at our fingertips, to do our bidding at the
mere flick of a switch. But it also needs careful handling. If not treated with respect it
can result in shocks, fires and other disasters. Faulty wiring, particularly in houses
where the wiring is old and insulation has become brittle, causes most electrical fires.
Frayed and worn out wiring leads to sparking and short circuits, which invariably result
in fires. Broken plugs, switches and frayed wires increase the chances of electrical
shocks. They also inflate the electricity bill. They should be replaced immediately by a
licensed and experienced electrician. Temporary wiring should be avoided at all costs. One
or other type of electrical equipment can be found in almost every kitchen these days. But
all of these can cause accidents if not operated or maintained with care. Most of the
electrical appliances have built in safety devices, but they can’t be termed
foolproof or fail-safe. So it is always a good idea to follow a few basic safety
rules.
1. Never plug in more than one appliance into
one socket.
2. All appliances should have 3-pin plugs and should be connected to 3-pin sockets
only.
3. Pins of the socket or the plug or any other connection should not be loose.
4. It is safer and economical to use good plugs and sockets.
5. All electrical appliances should be switched off after use.
 6. Electrical heating appliances like ovens, irons and geysers
require regular maintenance.
7. Take care to keep combustibles away from electrical appliances.
8. Never use a defective appliance and do not attempt to repair an appliance
yourself.
9. Use the correct size and quality of fuse wire for replacement.
10. The fuse should not be replaced until the defect in the circuit or the appliance has
been set right.
11. Never use a fuse of higher capacity, as it will fail to serve its purpose.
12. It is better to use miniature circuit breakers of the appropriate rating instead of a
fuse.
13. If you are leaving for a holiday turn off the main switch.
Domestic current in our homes can cause
serious injury and even death. When electricity passes through the body it causes burns
and much damage is visible at the points of entry and exit. There may be extensive damage
internally which may not be visible to the untrained eye. The first priority should be to
break the contact between the affected person and the source of electrical current. The
easiest way for this would be to switch off the current from the mains or remove the plug
from the socket.
(To be continued next week)
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