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In the event the power goes out, it’s important to know which procedures to follow. That way, you and your household will make it through the situation safely and experience minimal losses or disruptions. If an outage occurs in your neighborhood, electrical contractors recommend familiarizing yourself with a few safety tips and practices.

Here’s what you should do:

  • Use Flashlights Instead of Candles: Candles may have been recommended in the past, but flashlights are much safer. As a pre-emptive measure, keep several flashlights and new batteries handy in a convenient place, such as a hallway closet.

  • electrical contractorAvoid Opening the Fridge & Freezer: Perishable food can still last 24-48 hours, even in a disconnected fridge; the key is to keep the door closed. Electrical contractors recommend using up food from the fridge first, and moving onto the freezer later if the power has still not been restored.

  • Throw Out Meat, Seafood & Poultry Exposed to Warm Temperatures: If any of these items have been exposed to warm temperatures for longer than two hours, throw them out—don’t do a taste or smell test. Meat, poultry, and seafood will harbor harmful bacteria when they’re at room temperature for too long.

  • Disconnect Electrical Equipment: Disconnect all computers and other electronics that were in use just before the outage—this will protect them in the event of a power surge. Leave a light on, though, which will signify when power has finally been restored.

  • Don’t Use Camp Gear & Generators Indoors: If you need to cook with a camp stove or grill, do it outside. Do not use such equipment indoors—not even the garage—or you’ll put yourself at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. For this same reason, don’t run generators indoors either.

If you need an electrical contractor and live in Colorado, Arizona, or Utah, don’t hesitate to get in touch with McAtlin Electrical Corporation. They work out of Grand Junction, CO, and excel at house wiring, lighting installations, and many other electrical tasks. Call (970) 257-7414 to request an estimate, or visit the licensed electricians online for more information.

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