Home safety is important. But one thing many people overlook is electrical safety. There are around 51,000 home electrical fires a year, with nearly 500 deaths, over 1,400 injuries and $1.3 billion in damages. Yet there are ways to reduce the risk to you and your family. Here’s a few tips to get you started.

Outlets: Don’t overload outlets with extra adapters and power cords. And this is particularly true in older homes that may not have a large enough power supply which can cause breakers to trip or overheat and very possibly cause major fires.
Light Bulbs: Be sure to use a bulb with the correct wattage for the fixture you are using it in. A higher wattage bulb can cause the fixture to overheat and possibly cause the bulb itself to explode.

Appliances: We own many more appliances now than used to be in the average home 50-60 years ago. Appliances from a simple clock to a computer generate heat. So be sure to give the appliance plenty of circulation space and never leave blankets, towels or anything that will cover them so that they do not overheat and cause an overload or short out an electrical socket.

Electrical fires can be such a dangerous and devastating occurrence that following some simple tips can save you or your family’s lives and your family’s livelihood. Here are quite a few more suggestions on how to minimize the possibility of an electrical fire in the home.