Extension Cords
Keep your use of extension cords to a minimum. Match any extension cord to the cord you will be plugging into it: two-wire lamp cord for lamps and small appliances, heavier three-wire cord for large appliances and power tools.
Never plug a grounded cord into a two-wire extension cord, run any cord through a wall (it could overheat and set the wall on fire) or under a rug. DO locate cords behind furniture and other places where they won’t be stepped on or tripped over.
If you need to plug more than two items into a duplex receptacle, do not use a multiplying adapter sometimes called a “cube tap.” Instead, buy a power strip like the ones sold by computer stores.

Appliances
Electricity and water are a deadly combination, so never use a radio, hair dryer or other appliance where it could fall into a sink or tub. Also, never touch anything electrical while you are standing in a puddle or on a wet floor.
Immediately disconnect any appliance that sparks or gives off an acrid smell. Check cords periodically for fraying, cracks or punctures. When a cord goes bad, the problem is usually at one end.
Never attempt to service a television set or computer monitor. These store dangerous amounts of electricity even when they’re unplugged.

Child Proofing
Teach children to stay away from cords, receptacles, appliances and power tools. Curious fingers like to poke keys and other objects into receptacles, so cover any unused slots with plastic safety caps. You can also buy plug covers that keep children from tampering with plugs.
If a lamp doesn’t have a bulb in it, install a new bulb or unplug the lamp. Disconnect counter-top appliances and power tools when they’re not in use and store them out of a child’s reach.

Ground Faults
Grounding and circuit breakers or fuses protect your home’s wiring from conditions that could cause a fire. But they can’t detect tiny current leakages, called “ground faults,” that could kill a person under certain circumstances.
Normally, a current leakage—in a faulty hedge trimmer, for example—would give you a mild shock. But if you were standing on a wet lawn, the current could zap through your heart on its way to the ground, and you would be dead before a circuit breaker or fuse could react to the situation.
For this reason, the National Electrical Code requires that most receptacles located outdoors, in a garage, unfinished basement, or bathroom, or within 6 feet of a sink, be protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). You can replace an ordinary receptacle with a GFCI, have one installed in the service panel, or buy versions that plug into a receptacle or are part of an extension cord.

Space Heaters
Electric space heaters pose a risk of fire and shock. Don’t set a heater where you can easily knock it over. Keep it away from draperies, upholstery and other combustible materials. Never try to dry clothes by draping them over a heater.
As with any appliance, always inspect the power cord before plugging in a space heater and replace any cord that has frayed or melted insulation. Never use a light-gauge extension cord with a heater.
When you shop for a space heater, look for one with a switch that shuts off the heater if the unit tips over. If you have small children, consider whether tiny fingers could fit through the grill.

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