PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Drake Rice, 405-359-2510
MAY IS NATIONAL ELECTRICAL SAFETY MONTH
May is National Electrical Safety Month, and OMPA is joining with the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to raise awareness about potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety. This year’s campaign educates the public about emerging technologies and the electrical hazards associated with them. These technologies include electric vehicles, solar power, wind power, and smart meters.
In the United States, home electrical failures or malfunctions cause more than 50,000 fires each year, resulting in 450 deaths, nearly 1,500 injuries, and over $1.5 billion in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). To help prevent electrical fires and incidents, it is vital that consumers know the ins and outs of their electrical system and understand the safety concerns associated with the latest residential technologies before bringing them into their homes.
ESFI is also reminding consumers that there are simple improvements that can be made to any home to increase electrical safety without undertaking a major renovation. This includes the installation of arc fault circuit interrupters that prevent fires by detecting hazardous arcing conditions, ground fault circuit interrupters that prevent shocks and tamper resistant receptacles that replace standard wall outlets to protect children from shocks and burns.
Electrical safety awareness and education among consumers, families, employees, and communities will prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities. Learn more about home electrical safety by visiting ESFI’s Virtual Home at http://virtualhome.esfi.org.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to increase public awareness of the electrical hazards around us at home, work, school, and play. ESFI is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety. For more information about ESFI and electrical safety, visit www.electrical-safety.org.
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