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Shocking? May is National Electrical Safety Month
Protect your home and family from fires and electrocution
Hazards commonly found in older homes are increasingly causing fires and fatalities in the US.
However, by taking a few simple steps and by incorporating newer technology you can protect your home from many of these dangers. Each year the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) and Mr. Electric® sponsor May as National Electrical Safety Month.
For this year’s campaign, the foundation is helping consumers to take an active role in identifying older home hazards and in safeguarding their families from the dangers these hazards pose.
“Home electrical problems account for nearly 55,000 home fires every year,” said Jeff Meyers, president of Mr.
Electric. “These fires cause over 500 deaths, injure more than 1,400 people, and account for $1.4 billion in property
damage. Older homes are at even greater risk to fire.” According to the US Census Bureau, half of the homes in the
United States were built before 1973.
These homes and electrical systems were built before many of the appliances and electronics that we commonly use
today were around. A third of US homes were built before hair dryers or electric can openers were invented! Half of
the homes were built before the advent of the garage door opener or the home computer!
“As each year goes by Americans are using more energy in their homes,” says Brett Brenner, President of ESFI.
“Many homes and electrical systems in the US are simply being overburdened leading to fires, deaths, and injuries.”
For May 2008, ESFI is providing consumers with a checklist which will allow consumers to identify electrical
dangers commonly found in each room of their home. ESFI will also be educating owners of older homes on newer
fire prevention technology such as Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs). These advanced electronic circuit
breakers detect dangerous conditions in a home’s wiring and cut off power to the circuit before a fire develops.
Additionally, the foundation will be encouraging those living in older homes with children to install tamper resistant
receptacles. These devices look like normal electrical outlets except they have a built-in shutter system that prevents
children from inserting foreign objects into the slots. These outlets will prevent most of the 2,400 burns sustained by
children each year from outlets.
More information and resources relating to National Electrical Safety Month 2008 can be found at
www.electricalsafety.org.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety. Established in
1994, ESFI proudly sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May and focuses on reducing electrically related deaths,
injuries and property loss. Funded solely by the industry, ESFI is the leading authority and advocate of electrical safety.
About Mr. Electric®:
Established in 1994, Mr. Electric is a global franchise organization providing electrical installation and repair services. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its “Franchise 500,” Mr. Electric franchisees provide these services to both residential and commercial customers at over 200 locations worldwide. Mr. Electric is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc. For further information or to find the location nearest you, visit www.mrelectric.com.
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