How To Use Home Appliances Safely
28153
Home & Family
Jun 19, 2007
safetytimes
How To Use Home Appliances Safely
When home appliances were carpet sweepers, churns and washboards, there was little to fear. Today's appliances save us time and energy, but they can turn against us in a second. Until "smart" appliances eliminate the hazards, we've got to control the power of our appliances. Keep Your Appliances User-Friendly * Look for safety features when you buy, such as an automatic shut-off switch for your iron. * Purchase products approved by a recognized testing lab such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). * Read and follow instructions. * Place small appliances on solid, dry, stable counters or tables. * Unplug appliances not in use. * Inspect your appliances periodically for damage, wear or loose parts. If there's a problem, have it checked by a qualified service center before using the appliance again. * Only use the appliance for its intended purpose. For example, an oven is not a furnace. * Unplug immediately any appliance that sparks or stalls. * Be sure your hands and feet are dry before you touch any plugged-in appliance. * If an appliance cord falls into water, turn off the appliance and unplug it before pulling the cord out of the water. Wait for the cord to be completely dry before using. * Try to avoid using extension cords. If you must, use a heavy-duty cord. * If a fire starts in a microwave oven, unplug the unit immediately. Do not open the microwave door until the fire goes out by itself. * Get a periodic inspection of your gas-burning equipment by a professional. Replace any flexible gas appliance connectors that are more than 10 years old. * Clean the dryer lint trap before every load. * Turn off the switch and unplug the lamp when replacing a light bulb. Never touch the metal base while inserting or removing a bulb. Appliances And Kids While most home appliances are purchased for adult use, the fact is many of us share our homes with children or grandchildren. Children would love to play with those "toys" they see us using so industriously. Our job is to see they don't. * Keep small appliances as far away from prying hands as possible. * On major appliances, use latches designed to lock out youngsters. * Use the back burners of the range as much as possible. Install a range guard, and turn pot and skillet handles away from the edge. * Always keep the dishwasher closed and locked. Store knives and sharp utensils with the pointed edge facing down. * Garbage disposals that work by a wall switch should have a safety lock switch installed. * Trash compactors should only work with a key, and it should be kept away from children. Keep your deep freezer locked, and the key hidden.
John Myre is the author of the award-winning book, Live Safely in a Dangerous World, and the publisher of the Safety Times Reproducible Articles..
send email to safetytimes
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
When home appliances were carpet sweepers, churns and washboards, there was little to fear. Today's appliances save us time and energy, but they can turn against us in a second. Until "smart" appliances eliminate the hazards, we've got to control the powe
Category:
In a recent year about 80 fatalities and 750 nonfatal injuries occurred to U.S. hunters, according to the International Hunter Education Association. If you are among the millions of Americans who take to the fields with a loaded firearm, keep these thing
Category:
It's possible to stay sober and have a good time. It's also possible to have a few drinks and stay safe. Here are some suggestions for taming the party spirits.
Category:
Fishing is a wonderful sport, but safety must always be the first thing you consider before trying to land the big one. Annually, over 60,000 fishing injuries require emergency room treatment. Eye injuries from fishing are the No. 1 sports-related eye inj
Category:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than 15,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year due to injuries associated with gas and charcoal grills. However, there are ways to assure your grilling tears are limited to the
Category:
Annually, there are approximately 200,000 injuries associated with ladders. Most ladder incidents are caused by a loss of balance, or by a ladder's being placed on a slippery surface. Others are caused by sheer foolishness. Almost all of them could have b
Category:
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are more than 10,000 emergency room cases related to fireworks each year. Sadder still, there are deaths.
Category:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning kills over 400 people a year in the U.S., and causes over 10,000 to become ill. Sone preventive steps can eliminate this hazard in your home.
Category:
Boating is one of our most enjoyable summer activities. But don't forget that it can be dangerous, and everyone who gets in a boat must pay attention to safety.
Category:
Everyone sees less well at night. In fact, you are more than three times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash at night as during daylight hours. Here are some tips to keep in mind as the seasons change.
Category:
Other links at Home & Family
Using the right mix of cleaners can make you work much easier and prevent the return of mold and mildew.
Category:
With the rise in popularity of people taking on home improvement projects themselves more people are choosing to tile over their old flooring and although you may believe it is saving you time this can actually cause instability of your new floor.
Category:
Job loss, unexpected illness and injury or family member death are all situations that we each hope we don't have to face but are honestly uncontrollable.
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68309
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
