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Secure world of electricity



We use electricity every day - it allows us to cook delicious meals, have fun watching TV or video, work with the computer, use electric appliances that make our lives simpler and save time.

However, electricity can be very dangerous if electric devices are handled incorrectly or if safety rules are not observed.

Is your household safe?

Would you like to find out whether your household complies with the criteria of safe electricity use? Please complete the following form truthfully. The more questions about your household you answer with "yes", the safer your family members are. The "no" answers will draw you attention to the aspects you can change in order to make electricity in your home a good servant rather than a poor master.

Power sockets are not overloaded by many appliances.

yes

no

Appliance power cords are in a good condition.

Electrical appliances are located and used in a safe distance from water.

When working with appliances, we always hold them by the handle rather
than by the cord.

We have a multi-purpose fire extinguisher in our home.

Each member of the household knows and observes safety rules.

Electric appliances that heat up when used are in sufficient distance from
flammable materials.

Sockets that are not used are equipped with safety covers.

When leaving the house, we switch off all minor electric appliances or
disconnect them from the power socket.

We do not repair damaged fuses by ourselves but rather replace them with
new ones.

Kids, do you know the rules of safe electricity use?

Dear children, electricity can be a good friend of yours. It enables you to switch on the light where there is dark. It helps you when you do your homework or read books. Thanks to electricity you can watch your favourite TV programmes or play computer games.

However, be careful not to suffer an injury when using electrical appliances. Ask your parents for help in using them. And try to remember a few useful safety rules for the use of electricity:

  • Do not put too many appliances into one plug or extension lead. It may damage the electrical circuit in your house or even cause a fire.
  • Ask your parents to place safety covers on the wall sockets you do not use. Moreover, socket covers prevent electricity leakage and help to save energy.
  • Do not use force to pull an electrical cord out of a socket. Pulling at the cord may damage the appliance, as well as the plug or socket.
  • Make sure that appliance cords do not lie around on the floor. Your pets could bite them, people may trip over them and fall.
  • Whenever you need to use an electrical appliance, ask your parents for help.
  • Watch out for power lines if you want to climb a tree. Power lines may go through the treetop and electricity could strike you!
  • Never climb a wall which protects an electrical switching station. If a ball, animal or anything else gets behind this protection wall, ask an adult to report it to the respective power company which will take care of everything.
  • Remind your parents to watch out for power lines when they use a ladder or another similar tool outside.
  • When using all electrical appliances, keep a safe distance from water. Most accidents caused in the households by the electric current happen when people use electrical appliances near water.
  • Do not fly a kite near power lines. You could be struck by electric current when the kite touches the power lines.

Why do people get struck by electric current?

Remember, kids: water is nearly as good an electricity conductor as the power cord bringing it to your home. 70% of your body is composed of water. That means that contact with electric current can lead to a very serious injury, even death!

How bad the injury is depends on the electric current intensity, and for how long you are struck. That is why people working with electricity use a special protective gear. You cannot protect yourself this way, so stay away from the danger!

Safety in the exterior

  • Refrain from outdoor activities in the event of an imminent threat of lightning.
  • Stay inside enclosed buildings during storms.
  • Sit in a car with a solid roof, close the windows and avoid contact with metal.

Safety in exteriors with no hideout nearby

  • Stay within a safe distance from tall trees. If an open area provides no hideout, the safe distance from a tall tree is a least two times its height.
  • Prevent a situation where you would be the tallest object around. It is necessary to drop as low to the ground as possible; however, one must not lie face-down.
  • Crouch down on your toes as low as possible, maintaining minimum contact with the ground. Use your hands to cover your ears and place your face between your knees. If in the mountains, get below forest level.
  • If you can, hide in a grove with low overgrowth, as far from all metal objects (fishing rods, tennis racquets, metal-containing hiking sticks and backpacks, etc.) as possible – these objects could inflict burns. Get out of the water.
  • If the lightning storm catches you sailing, crouch in the middle of the boat as far from the water and metallic parts of the boat as possible. Swimming, wading, diving and snorkeling are not safe.
  • Do not stand in puddles even if you have rubber boots on. Keep a safe distance from each other.
  • Remain several metres from each other, do not stay in groups or share blankets. Get out of open or elevated areas, trees, water, unroofed gazebos or picnic tents, communication towers, lighting and electric poles, metal or wooden open air stadiums, metal fences, convertible cars, bikes and motorbikes.

Safety in the interior

  • Do not use any electric appliances (with the exception of those used to get weather updates) and unplug all other appliances from sockets.
  • Switch of the air conditioning and computers to protect them from an electric surge.
  • Only use the fixed phone line if absolutely necessary.
  • Do not bathe or shower during a storm.
  • Minimise contact with conductive items or items that may contain electricity.
  • Keep a safe distance from doors and windows.


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