May is National Electrical Safety Month, and Horry Electric Cooperative is joining with the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to raise awareness about potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety.
This year’s campaign features the launch of the second edition of its National Electrical Safety Month publication, Electrical Safety Illustrated. The issue is titled “That Old House, This New Update” and informs readers about the common hazards posed by America’s aging housing stock and the variety of updates that can improve any home’s functionality, efficiency and safety.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates 47,700 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments each year involve some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to ignition. These fires result in 418 civilian deaths, 1,570 civilian injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property damage. Awareness and education are critical to reduce the incidence of electrical fires, and ESFI sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to educate the public in order to reduce the number of electrically related fires, fatalities, injuries and property loss.
“Nearly half of our nation’s housing stock was built before 1970 at a time when we put significantly less stress on our electrical systems,” said Brian Chestnut, safety coordinator for Horry Electric. “This year’s campaign encourages consumers to make sure their homes can adequately handle the demand they are putting on their electrical system to help minimize potential hazards.”
Featured content in Electrical Safety Illustrated includes a fact sheet on the evolution of the American home, illustrated guides that address the levels of protection provided by multiple types of outlets and circuit breakers, a detailed account of the dangers provided by aluminum wiring, infographics featuring safe and efficient lighting options, a guide to safely maintaining the outdoor components of your home and a fact sheet on heating and cooling safety.
ESFI encourages the sharing of its campaign resources, and developed The National Electrical Safety Month 2015 Electrical Safety Advocate Guide to provide the resources necessary to raise awareness of electrically safe practices. Whether you want to educate a loved one or raise awareness in your community, school, or workplace, this guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to be an Electrical Safety Advocate and help champion ESFI’s cause of minimizing electrically-related deaths and injuries.
Electrical safety awareness and education among consumers, families, employees, and communities will prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities. For ESFI’s complete collection of National Electrical Safety Month resources, and for more information on spring safety, visit www.esfi.org.
About ESFI: The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to increase public awareness of the electrical hazards around us at home, work, school, and play. ESFI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety. For more information about ESFI and electrical safety, visit www.esfi.org.
