Every one of us has, at some stage, experienced an electric shock. Sadly, some of us have also experienced a house fire. At #Electrical, we're committed to electrical safety so here's a few quick tips to keep you and your family safe.

1. DON'T OVERLOAD YOUR OUTLETS

If you live in an older home, you’ll probably find you have one or two electrical outlets in each room – and a lot more than two items of electrical equipment to keep charged! Don’t feel tempted to plug a bunch of stuff into a multi box or use multiple extension cords to plug everything in. This unsafe practice can cause power outages – and even fires.

If you’ve more electrical equipment than outlets, the best thing you can do is get in touch with an electrician to organise having more power outlets added. And, if you need to use multi boxes, make sure they’re the kind with surge control.

2. CHILD PROOF YOUR ELECTRICAL OUTLETS

If you have young children, taking the time to teach them electrical safety is one of the best things you can do. However, for those with very young children, here’s three quick tips to keep in mind:

Invest in safety caps for unused electrical outlets – this will prevent curious kids from sticking foreign objects into plug holes
Keep all electrical cords tucked away, neat and tidy
In areas where water is around – like bathrooms and kitchens – always ensure appliances like hair dryers and toasters are out of reach of curious kids

3. LISTEN FOR THE BUZZ

If you hear a buzz coming from an electrical outlet after you’ve plugged something in, this is normally a sign that there’s an issue with the outlet. Remove the plug and switch the electrical outlet off at the wall immediately, then get in touch with an electrician. Ignoring the buzz could lead to power outages – or a fire.

4. BE CAREFUL WITH CORDS

This is less of a safety measure and more of a cost-saving measure. Never yank an electrical cord from the wall. Yanking a cord can damage the appliance, plug or outlet.