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Electrical Cord Safety Though most people overuse their electrical cords mainly in the winter time, it’s important to never exceed your outlet capacity. Each year 4,000 injuries associated with electric extension cords are treated in hospital emergency rooms.* About half of these injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions or sprains from people tripping over extension cords, and 13 percent of the injuries involve children less than five years of age. Nationwide about 3,300 residential fires originate in extension cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring about 270 others.* The most frequent causes of such fires are short circuits, overloading, damage and/or misuse of extension cords. Take the time to be safe. It may save your house, your loved ones or your own life. Prevent fatal fires by using electrical cords safely Electrical Cord Safety Tips • Never overload an electrical cord or power strip. Electrical cords and power strips have a designated load capacity. Be sure the total amount of energy used by appliances and lights plugged into the strip does not exceed that capacity. Overloaded cords will become hot and can start a fire. • Use only power strips with integral overload protection and that have been tested by a product safety lab. • Do not use appliances that have damaged cords. • Avoid permanent use of extension cords. Extension cords shouldn’t be a substitute for permanently wired outlets. • Appliance cords and extension cords are susceptible to physical damage from foot traffic, furniture, house pets, swinging doors and many other causes, so protect them from damage. For More Information: For more information about electrical cords and codes, contact the Allen County Building Department at [PHONE REDACTED] or visit www.allencounty.us. *According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSO). Some information from the International Code Council’s “Safety Tips.”