Home Safety 1

Home Safety 1

It is essential for everyone to have sufficient knowledge of home safety. Lakhs of people are getting injured, every year, in home accidents. If we have good knowledge of home safety we can safe guard our people.

Home safety is a combination of attitudes and actions. They are

-          Finding and fixing safety hazards

-          Knowing what to do in an emergency

-          Being safety conscious all the time

Electricity.

Electricity is the most dangerous hazard present in homes. The risks involved are: shocks, death, and fire. We have to handle electricity with due respect.

-          Ensure that the household is wired through an appropriately rated ELCB (earth leakage circuit breaker). Always use 30 mA sensitivity ELCB.  Once in a while check its operation by pressing its trip button. When we press the trip button the ELCB should cut the entire power supply. After checking, the ELCB can be switched ON. Carry out this exercise once in a month or forty-five days.

-          Fuses / MCBs are for our safety, don’t tamper with them. Label them for easy identification.

-          Don’t be a do-it-yourself person as far as electricity is concerned. There is no second chance with electricity.

-          Use three pin plugs only.

-          Follow the rule of ‘one socket-one appliance’. Don’t overload the sockets.

-          Switch OFF every appliance after the job is over.

-          Keep combustibles away from appliances.

-          Don’t insert bare wires in sockets, always use appropriate top with the wires.

-          Don’t pull any plug by the cord, remove it by firmly holding the top.

-          Don’t operate any switch with wet body / fingers.

-          Educate children not to put their fingers in sockets.

-          With advent of high-rise buildings, chances are that overhead high tension (HT) electric lines may be close to the flats. Never allow anyone to get closer to those lines.

-          Don’t switch ON any appliance and leave the place, all the appliances must always be under constant supervision.

-          Switch OFF the power supply when you leave on a holiday.

-          Periodically clean the appliances like microwave oven, induction heaters, TV, refrigerator, etc to remove the dust accumulation. This will ensure proper cooling of those appliances.

-          Avoid using extension cards as far as possible. If at all it is to be used: don’t leave it dangling or trailing on floor, don’t let the cord lie over wet or hot surfaces or concealed under mat or carpet.

-          Always keep the unused outlet sockets covered.

-          It is preferable to keep the electric controls outside of bathrooms.

-          Preach and practice electrical safety.

        Do not throw objects on power lines, which can cause short circuits resulting in injuries.

         If anyone in your house suffers an electric shock, call your local emergency medical service immediately.          Even minor shocks can cause life-threatening conditions hours later, so it is important to seek immediate medical attention.

        Educate children not to fly kites near electric overhead lines.

          In case of an electric shock, NEVER touch the victim before switching off the power supply. In case the main switch  is not known, a long, dry wooden stick can be used to move the victim from the source of the shock.

Gas (LPG and piped CNG).

The second most hazardous item present in homes is a gas. This can be either LPG (liquified petroleum gas) or piped CNG (compressed natural gas). We must understand the difference between these two.

Attribute	LPG	CNG
Available	Everywhere	In select places
Form	In cylinders	Through pipeline
Density	Thick	Light
Odour	Nil. But an artificial odour is added to find out leaks	Nil.
Disbursement in air	Not easy. It will remain as it is since it is thick	Will easily escape in atmosphere as it is light
Pressure	High	Low – almost atmospheric

-          The risk involved is fire and explosion.

-          Get the gas stove serviced at regular intervals.

-          Keep the gas hose in good working condition without any cracks or leaks.

-          Always place the gas stove on a raised platform.

-          Keep the regulator (in case of LPG) or the shut off valve (in case of piped CNG) closed during nights.

-          In case a leakage is detected, never put ON any electric switch or bring in naked flames; close the regulator or valve and open all the windows to allow the gas to escape.

-          Verify the validity of LPG cylinder when it is delivered to you. The validity is painted in the neck of the cylinder. It is a code which gives the quarter (A, B, C, and D) and the year. For example A 20 means, the cylinder is valid up to first quarter of the year 2020.

-          While cooking, use tight cotton clothes. If it is not feasible, use at least cotton apron.

-          Never throw water on oil fire to quench it. Use a fire extinguisher.