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Electrocution isn’t a pleasant topic to think about, but it’s so common that it’s worth understanding how it happens. The truth of the matter is you can get electrocuted in your home just by standing in the wrong place or touching the wrong thing at the wrong time. Mansfield, CT’s leading electrical service, Patnode Electric, shares advice, so you can easily recognize and avoid dangerous situations.

Here are three electrical socket safety tips and how to avoid electric shock:

  • Understand Electrical Current: In a typical socket, live current continuously flows from “hot” (the right slot) to “neutral” (the left slot). Electrocution occurs when your body becomes part of this closed path. This is especially likely to happen if you’re standing in water, have damp hands, or you’re in a moist environment. If a situation seems dubious, the safest course of action is to turn off your breaker box and avoid using electricity in the area until you call an electrician.

  • electrical-serviceKeep Sockets Covered: To prevent water from accidentally getting into sockets, your local electrical service recommends keeping them covered with plastic caps when they aren’t in use. This is especially important in kitchens and bathrooms or wherever children are present.

  • Install GFCI Outlets: The safest outlets to have in outdoor environments, near swimming pools, or otherwise moist environments, are Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets. These are specifically designed to close the circuit as soon as it detects a change in electrical current (e.g. hot current starts flowing through a person instead of going straight to “neutral”).

If you ever need electrical work, your best bet is to call a qualified electrician than to do it yourself. For service near Glastonbury, Hebron, Windham, or Somers, CT, you can reach Patnode Electric by calling (860) 429-3574. More information about the electrical services is available online.

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