Safety Tips for Portable Electric Generator Use during Hurricane Season

Portable electric generators are relied upon by many families and businesses when the weather turns rough. The United States is about to enter its peak season for hurricanes within the next month, which will increase generator use. Use them safely though. Too often there is news of power outages, quickly followed up with news from that same area of injuries from unsafe portable generator use or carbon monoxide poisoning. Electrical Safety Foundation International has issued a press release to help individuals avoid the most common mistakes when using an electrical generator.

The first tip and one of the most important is to never use a gasoline powered portable generator inside your house. These type of generators produce carbon monoxide gas. Do not rely on the fact that you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home to protect you. Do the smart and safe thing instead and use the portable generator outside of the living quarters of your home.

Many people feel that just because generators are sold at their local hardware store or convenience stores that they are simple to install. This is not necessarily the case. It's worth it to have a licensed electrician install the generator for you. By paying a little more for the installation, you will be able to avoid possible costs due to injury or illness from an improperly installed generator.

Before starting your generator it's best to make sure you have it set up properly. Make sure that you are using the correct type of extension cord for your generator, a three pronged plug is essential. Check your cord to make sure it is not frayed and that it does not have any signs of damage to it. Also make sure that your generator is in a safe, and dry place. Water and electricity can be a very dangerous combination resulting in electrical shock that could injure or kill you.

When running your generator, make sure you keep children away from it, there is no reason for your children to be near the generator regardless of how inquisitive they are. Only use your generator when it's absolutely necessary, and if using it in an enclosed space make sure carbon monoxide detectors are installed in the area. Again remember though not to use a gas powered generator inside the home.

When you no longer need to power your appliances with the generator, turn the appliances off before turning off the generator. When storing your fuel for your generator, make sure that you store it in a cool area that is away from any electrical appliances. Also make sure that it is stored in a well marked container so others in your house know what the container holds for safety reasons and where to find it when needed.

As hurricane season gets into full swing it is likely areas within the continental U.S. will come under hurricane watches or warnings. If you are in an area such as this and intend to use your portable generator if you lose power, make sure your family is aware of these safety precautions as well. Using a portable generator is a great convenience but not one worth risking injury to family members due to them being uninformed.

SOURCES:

Prnewswire.com. "Know The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From Portable Electric Generators".
URL: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/07-31-2007/0004635639&EDATE=TUE+Jul+31+2007,+05:06+AM