Get amped up for Burn Awareness Week by helping Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America raise awareness for electrical safety.

National Burn Awareness Week is observed the first full week of February and promotes safety education and burn prevention. This year, the American Burn Association (ABA) has dedicated the week to electrical safety from A to Z (from Amps to Zap). In a world driven by technology, Dr. Bounthavy Homsombath, medical director of the JMS Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, GA, believes you can never be too careful when it comes to handling electrical devices and appliances.

“Electrical devices can be extremely dangerous. Nearly every device or appliance associated with electricity has the potential to cause fires, contact burns, and electrocution,” he said. “Knowing fire and injury hazards associated with electricity and understanding the precautions to take to lessen those risks, are important steps in electrical burn and fire prevention.”

Dr. Homsombath recommends the following tips when using electrical products:

• Never use cords that are frayed or show signs of wear.

• Ensure that all outlets have faceplates.

• Never piggyback plugs. There should be no more than one plug in each receptacle and no more than two plugs per outlet.

• When using heating appliances like coffeemakers, toasters, and space heaters, plug them directly into a wall outlet. They should be the only thing plugged into the outlet during use.

• Large appliances like refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwave ovens, and air conditioners should be plugged directly into a wall outlet.

• All light fixtures and lamps should have shades or globes.

• Ensure all lightbulbs are tightly screwed in, and they are the proper wattage for the light fixture.

Electrical injuries can happen to anyone in the family, regardless of age. Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America treats young patients injured chewing on wires or sticking small objects into outlets too often for comfort. Though not always preventable, there are a few extra steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of electrical injury to little ones.

“My rule of thumb is: if a dog or cat can reach it, a baby or a child can too. Always keep live wires and cords tucked away or out of reach. When appliances aren’t in use, unplug them and use outlet plug covers. Outlet plug covers keep little ones safe by preventing them from sticking things into live outlets,” said Dr. Homsombath.

Another important step toward electrical safety in in your home is the installation of circuit interrupters. Of all electrical fires, wiring and electrical distribution account for a majority of them. Circuit interrupters are essential to preventing these types of fire hazards, specifically arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) and ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). AFCIs automatically shut off the electricity under dangerous conditions, such as sparking or arcing due to loose or corroded wires. GFCIs protect against shock hazards, which is why they are normally installed in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and basements. Working in tandem, these two types of circuit interrupters directly aid in preventing fires and electrical injuries.

“Electricity is a double-edged sword. There’s a lot of good and a lot of bad that come with it,” said Dr. Homsombath. “If there is any indication something may be wrong with the wiring in your home or an electrical appliance you’re using, please have it inspected. Never think you’re being paranoid when, in fact, you’re being cautious.”

Call an electrician as soon as possible if any of the following apply:

• Your wall outlets look discolored or feel warm to the touch.

• Your outlets spark when you plug in or unplug cords.

• You smell a burning or rubbery smell around your appliances.

• You experience a tingling feeling when you touch light switches.

• Your lights frequently flicker or dim for no known reason.

• You frequently have blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers.