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THE STATISTICS
There are estimates that each year,
about 4,000 injuries associated with
electric extension cords are treated in
hospital emergency rooms. About half the
injuries involve fractures, lacerations,
contusions, or sprains from people
tripping over extension cords. Thirteen
percent of the injuries involve children
under-five years of age; electrical burns
to the mouth accounted for half the
injuries to young children.
Also about 3,300 residential fires
originate in extension cords each year,
killing 50 people and injuring about 270
others. The most frequent causes of such
fires are short circuits, overloading,
damage, and/or misuse of extension cords.
THE PROBLEM
Children putting extension cords in
their mouths, overloaded cords, worn or
damaged cords, and tripping over cords are
some of the incidents that have been
reported.
A 15-month-old girl put an extension
cord In her mouth and suffered an
electrical burn. She required surgery.
Two young children were injured In a fire
caused by an overloaded extension cord in
their family's home. A lamp, TV set, and
electric heater had been plugged Into a
single, light-duty extension cord.
A 65-year old woman was treated for a
fractured ankle after tripping over an
extension cord.
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THE STANDARDS
The National Electrical Code says that
many cord-connected appliances should be
equipped with polarized grounding type
plugs. Polarized plugs have one blade
slightly wider than the other and can only
be inserted one way into the outlet.
Polarization and grounding ensure that
certain parts of appliances that could
have a higher risk of electric shock when
they become live are instead connected to
the neutral, or grounded, side of the
circuit. Such electrical products should
only be used with polarized or grounding
type extension cords.
Voluntary industry safety standards,
including those of Underwriters
Laboratories Inc.(UL), now require that
general use extension cords have safety
closures, warning labels, rating
information about the electrical current,
and other added features for the
protection of children and other
consumers.
In addition, UL-listed extension cords now
must be constructed with #16 gauge or
larger wire, or be equipped with integral
fuses. The #16 gauge wire is rated to
carry 13 amperes (up to 1560 watts), as
compared to the formerly-used # 18 gauge
cords that were rated for 10 amperes (up
to 1200 watts).
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SAFETY SUGGESTIONS
Please read the following
recommendations for the purchase and
safe use of extension cords:
* Use extension cords only when
necessary and only on a temporary basis.
* Use polarized extension cords with
polarized appliances.
* Make sure cords do not dangle from the
counter or table tops where they can be
pulled down or tripped over.
* Replace cracked or worn extension
cords with new. #16 gauge cords that
have the listing, of a
nationally-recognized testing
laboratory, safety closures, and other
safety features.
* With cords lacking safety closures,
cover any unused outlets with electrical
tape or with plastic caps to prevent the
chance of a child making contact with
the live circuit.
* Insert plugs fully so that no part of
the prongs are exposed when the
extension cord is in use.
* When disconnecting cords, pull the
plug rather than the cord itself.
* Teach children not to play with plugs
and outlets.
* Use only three-wire extension cords
for appliances with three-prong plugs.
Never remove the third (round or
U-shaped) prong, which is a safety
feature designed to reduce the risk of
shock and electrocution.
| * In locations where
furniture or beds may be pushed against
an extension cord where the cord joins
the plug, use a special "angle
extension cord," which is
specifically designed for use in these
instances.
* Check the plug and the body of the
extension cord while the cord is in use.
Noticeable warming of these plastic
parts is expected when cords are being
used at their maximum rating, however,
if the cord feels hot or if there is a
softening of the plastic, this is a
warning that the plug wires or
connections are failing and that the
extension cord should be discarded and
replaced.
* Never use an extension cord while it
is coiled or looped. Never cover any
part of an extension cord with
newspapers, clothing, rugs, or any
objects while the cord is in use. Never
place an extension cord where it is
likely to be damaged by heavy furniture
or foot traffic.
* Don't use staples or nails to attach
extension cords to a baseboard or to
another surface. This could damage the
cord and present a shock or fire hazard.
* Don't overload extension cords by
plugging in appliances that draw a total
of more watts than the rating of the
cord.
* Use special, heavy duty extension
cords for high wattage appliances such
as air conditioners, portable electric
heaters, and freezers.
* When using outdoor tools and
appliances, use only extension cords
labeled for outdoor use. |
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HOT
TOPICS |
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The recent Taylor County Burn Ban was lifted August 18.
Please continue to be careful.
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Congratulations to Jeremy Williams for
his recent promotion to Lieutenant!
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HELP PREVENT GRASS
FIRES
BE CAREFUL WHILE
WELDING OR WORKING WITH OTHER SPARK PRODUCING EQUIPMENT
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When was the
last time you tested your smoke detectors ?
Your Abilene
Fire Department reminds you to test your detectors MONTHLY
!
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Never cross a road that is covered in
water. 1 to 2 feet of water is capable of floating your
vehicle.
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"FIREWATCH"
FIREWATCH
every Monday on
KRBC 9 "Abilene's First News" during the
5:00pm Newscast
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CODE RED
The CodeRED system calls
only those who are in the telephone database. To ensure
no one is omitted, individuals and businesses are
encouraged to log onto the City of Abilene’s website, www.abilenetx.com,
and follow the link to the "CodeRED Residential and
Business Data Collection" page. Those without
Internet access may call Emergency Plans Office
(676-6525), Monday through Friday No one should
automatically assume his or her phone number is
included.
Questions should be
directed to the City of Abilene’s Office of Emergency
Management, (325) 676-6683.
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