Walk into any house or apartment and you are bound to see some extension cords.
They are a very popular household item that most people use.
Unfortunately a lot of people don't realize the safety hazards they impose.
Each year thousands of people are injured in one way or the other from them.
Follow these general guidelines to ensure you and your family is safe.
You should only use them when necessary and only then on a temporary basis.
Check to make sure that they do not in any way pose a danger to somebody tripping over them.
You should always replace cracked or worn cords with brand new ones.
Some may lack safety closures.
Make sure you cover these spots with electrical tape or plastic caps to avert the chance of a small child making contact with the live circuit.
In line with this, always teach young kids not to play around them in general.
You should never overload a cord with too many appliances.
They are usually not graded for a lot of watts and can overheat and cause a fire.
Make sure all cords are not looped in any way.
You should also routinely check them to make sure they do not feel too hot.
If they do, instantly unplug them and get a new one.
Finally, when using outdoor tools or appliances, you should always make sure they are labeled for outdoor use.
Keeping these suggestions in mind will go a long way to ensure your home is safe from the dangers that extension cords can provide.