Safety tips you should know

ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC SAFETY AT HOME 

Safety For Socket Outlets

1. Never put fingers or any objects in a socket outlets.
2. Replace all damaged socket outlet.
3. Never remove a plug when your hands are wet or if you are touching a metal objects.
4. The third prong of a plug exist for safety reasons. Do nor break it off or bypass it.
5.  Always limiting the number of devices connected to a single outlet.

SAFETY FOR EXTENSION SOCKETS

1. If you are using extension cords on temporary basics, always hide them behind furniture or unplug them when not in use.
2. Keep cords away from water and sources of heat.
3. Any cords and plugs that show signs of damage need to be replaced to avoid electric shocks. Stop using them immediately.
4. Don't place a cord under a carpet, through a doorway, or anywhere that it could be stepped on.
5. Always use extension cords that can withstand your appliances without getting hot.
6. Always coil up excess length of cord and keep the coil intact with plastic ties or tape.
7. Use only three pronged extension cords for outdoor purpose.
8. Always limit the use of extension cords. Make sure the cord is the right size for use because some appliances or equipment require heavy duty cords.

SAFETY FOR Electrical devices, appliances, and power tools

1. Keep devices such as DVD player on a shelf out of reach, or behind a barrier.
2. Always store bathroom and kitchen electrical appliances like, hair dryers out of children reach.
3. Always pull the plug and not the cord when disconnecting an electrical device.
4. Please unplug the toaster before removing that stuck toast.
5. Remember to unplug your electrical gadgets when not in use
6. Keep your electrical devices away from sources of water.
7. When using an electric lawnmower, only cut the grass when it is dry and not when it's raining.
8. Always unplug electronic devices, during thunder storms.
9. Always remember that a turned off appliance is still connected to electricity until it is unplugged from an outlet.
10. It is recommended to check the oil level of your generator every 8 hours of use or change the oil every 50 hours of use.
11. Wifi and bluetooth consumes much power on your phone, always switch them off when not in use to safe the battery of your phone.
12. When you don't need internet on your phone, please switch it off to safe battery life.
13. Service your vacuum pump every year to help protect it and make it work as you bought it new.
14. Always try to keep your freezer half full with food or containers to maintain constant temperature.
15. Put a cup of water to boil in your microwave, it will help loosen dried on food which can be easily cleaned later.
16. Always switch off the fan when leaving a room. Fans do not cool room, they cool you by moving air. It saves cost.

ELECTRICITY SAFETY NEAR GAS SUPPLY

1. If you smell gas PLEASE don't touch any electrical switches as it could cause a spark. Check for leakages and observe for about 10 minutes if  the smell is gone. If not call certified personnel to check for gas leakage. 
2. Always use qualified electricians and gas technicians to install your services and ask them to ensure the services are installed at the right distance apart.
3. Always use switches and sockets certified for the kitchen to avoid sparks that can ignite fire in case of gas leakage.
4. The minimum distance between your gas cylinder and cooker should be 3 yards except for camp gas.
5. No phone calls in the kitchen.
6. It is safer to keep old gas cylinders outside under cover from rain in case of explosion..
7. Camp gas is not for home cooking. Do not use it for cooking indoor. As the name implies they are used in open and well ventilated area.
8. Cylinder has expiring days of 15 years. Check your cylinder and add 15years to Date.
9. Do not shake to determine level but apply water on the cylinder body it will show you gas level.
10. Cylinder should be stored outside not inside. Even if you are living in a high raiser!
11. Have double control for your cylinder. They are safety checks.
12. Do not put on the gas before striking a match.
13. Do not switch on the kitchen light first thing on entrance. First throw open your windows and then Smell for gas leakage before flipping the switch.
14. When in doubt of leakage, place soap bubbles along the pipes it will indicate the presence or absence of leakage.
15. For those with dual functions. Do not use electricity and gas at the same time.
16. On transportation: cylinders should be packed horizontally in a tight position to avoid rolling or movement due to bad roads. It can explode!

WHAT IS STATIC ELECTRICITY?
Static electricity is an imbalance of of electrical charges within or on the surface of a material. These remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric current or electric discharge.
Static electric charge can be created whenever two surfaces contact and separate, and least one of the surfaces has a high resistance to electric current.
From the study of static electricity your body can build up a charge in different ways, such as getting in and out of a vehicle. "When you scuff your feet on the carpet, you can get up to 35,000 volts. In a car situation it can produce as high as 60,000 volts. It is enough to spark fire.
That means it can cause explosion in a petrol/gas station while filling your tank.

TIPS TO AVOID STATIC FIRES AT PETROL/GAS STATIONS

1. Do not get back into your car until you have finished filling gas/petrol
2. When you get out to pump gas, get rid of any static charge while coming out by simply tapping the metal top of your car with your bare hand.
3. Experts say if a fire does start, never take the gas nozzle out of your car. That is the surest way to turn a bad situation into a tragedy. Everyone who has been hurt, injured, or has been killed has pulled that nozzle out.
4. Never fill portable containers in or on a vehicle. Instead put them on the ground. Like a person, a container can also become statically charged. If the earth's not there to absorb the voltage, the can itself can spark.
5. It is safer to stay inside your vehicle while the pump attendant is discharging petrol/gas.So you don't bring out charges stored on your shoe as a result of contact with your car carpet. 

CHILD SAFETY

How Safe is your child's play area?

Children need to play. It is important for their complete development. Unfortunately most parents try to fill up their days with so much activity that a recent report says Doctors are now beginning to prescribe play to children.

As they play, it's inevitable that falls or other  accidents  would occur. How then can you ensure your children at home or students in school can stay safe even when they play?

Here are some tips to consider:

1) Floor plan: Floors on playgrounds and in play areas should be such that will not cause injury when a child falls down. Concrete floors should be ruled out. Sand, artificial grass or rugs are better to cushion the effect of falls. 

2) Sharp corners/objects: Is the playground close to sharp corners? Then it's either you move the playground to somewhere with more space or improvise by covering sharp corners with rugs, cushions or even throw pillows 

3) Hand washing stations: With play comes sweat and contact with dirt. Therefore it is important to provide hand washing stations and encourage the habit of hand washing after play and before return to class or other activities 

4) Horseplay: Teach children to avoid being rough when playing. When play becomes a high risk activity, the more quiet kids would stay away and this is not healthy. We need to encourage children to play without causing harm to their friends

5) First aid kit: While we encourage safe play behaviour, we also understand that an injury can happen at any time. Therefore it is important to have a well equipped first aid kit so that when injury occurs, you can spring to action in a timely and efficient manner.

GENERAL CHILDREN SAFETY 

1. Don't make names of your child visible to strangers by writing it on their school bags. Calling a child by his or her name makes kidnapping very easy.

2. Don't allow sharp objects or work tools accessible to children.

3. Keep poisonous liquids under lock. Recently a child died because he drank kerosene thinking it was water when he was thirsty.

4. Always keep your kitchen locked when you are not there.