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Summer is in full swing with hot summer days and warm evenings filled with lots of fun. However, summer electrical safety must be kept in mind.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) there are approximately 400 instances of individuals being electrocuted annually in the United States. Approximately 15 percent of these electrocutions are related to consumer products.

With that in mind, we’d like to suggest these summer safety tips:

• Survey all your outdoor entertaining areas and make sure everything is still in good working condition. Test the GFCI breakers in all the wet zones. Check the outdoor outlets weatherproof covers for any damage.
• Note where all the shut off switches and circuit breakers are in case of an emergency.
• If you’ve just gotten out of the pool or hot tub, towel off before touching anything electrical. Electricity travels through water very quickly.
• Keep an eye to the sky and never swim if storms are in the area. If you hear thunder, get out of the water immediately.
• Remind yourself of your emergency plan in case of electrocution. The CPSC has a good plan to print out.
• Never plug a window or portable air conditioner into an extension cord. Make sure it is plugged directly into a grounded (three-prong) outlet. The CPSC estimates 400 residential structure fires resulting in $12.1 million in property losses, 40 injuries and 10 deaths were caused by portable air conditioners in 2012.
• If you need to use an extension cord outside, make sure it is rated for outdoor use. The CPSC estimates more than 3,300 home fires are caused by improper extension cord use. Each year, about 4,000 injuries associated with electric extension cords are treated in hospital emergency rooms.  Half of these injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions, or sprains from people tripping over extension cords.
• Summer thunderstorms can bring down branches and trees onto power lines or electrical boxes. Do not touch them or attempt to clean them up yourself. Call your power company report the downed line and let the professionals handle it. ComEd launched a power line safety campaign recently reminding customers of best practices.
• When using power tools, plug them into GFCI outlets to protect against shocks. The CPSC reports that 8 percent of consumer product-related electrocutions each year are attributed to electrical accidents with power drills, saws, sanders, hedge trimmers and other electric power tools. The agency also states that 9 percent of consumer product-related electrocutions each year are caused by accidents involving the use of lawn and garden equipment and ladders, which come into contact with overhead power lines.
• If you plan to do landscaping and yard work that involves digging, call 811 at least 48 hours but no more than 14 days prior to beginning the project to allow for utility line marking. A ticket can also be put in online by homeowners and contractors. The markings are valid for 28 days once they are put in place by the utilities.

Paramont EO & Crest Lighting want all our customers, employees and friends to have a safe summer.