 The Shock Doctors ECRA/ESA #7001377 |
|
Writing your Prescription for Electrical Safety
May 2010 |
|
|
Beat the HST
SAVE 8%!!!
Get your project done before July 1st |
|
Surge Protection
The average home now contains more than $8,000 of electronic appliances and equipment. Full panel surge protection is more important than ever. Protect your investment from voltage fluctuations, power grid surges and lightning strikes.
|
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG! (Click here)
1-800-400-2255 Underground power lines on your property can be dangerous to work around. Please use extreme caution and always call before you dig. Overhead power lines are also dangerous. Stay at least 10' away when pruning trees and shrubs. |
|
|
"News You can Use around Your Home". 
We use electricity every day and we are highly inconvenienced when it is not available. With daily access comes casual indifference. It is ELECTRICAL SAFETY MONTH and a great time to remind ourselves of the importance of being safe when using this utility.
If you think this topic is more boring than watching paint dry, give me a chance to "liven" it up for you. Terry Carman |
| Home electricity 101 | |
Do you know if your household electricity is low voltage or high voltage? You might think low voltage refers to your phone and cable TV line, but in the electrical world, all power less 750 volts is considered LOW voltage. Household power (240/120 volts) is considered to be low voltage. The power lines on the poles outside your home are high voltage.
|
|
Getting Zapped | |
Our electricians always say "It's not the volts that kill you, it's the amperage."
0.1 Amps can be lethal. A standard receptacle will have 15-20 Amps supplied to it through the breaker and so it should be considered dangerous.
Overall, low-voltage shocks tend to have less severe consequences than high-voltage shocks. Burns to the skin are the most common outcome from household power shocks, but alternating current (A/C) is very good at causing an irregular heart beat leading to cardiac arrest if contact is near the chest.
High voltage shocks (lightning strikes, downed power lines) cause severe burns and internal damage. There is a very high mortality rate associated with these incidents. |
|
#1 Victims at Home | |
 Injuries are most common seen in children. Biting or chewing on an electrical cord is a common misadventure resulting in severe lip, face, and tongue injuries. Wetness from saliva greatly intensifies the shock compared to the same contact on dry skin. Within the last six years, more than 360 Canadian children, under the age of six, have been injured in accidents involving electrical wall receptacles. The extent of the injuries range from first to third degree burns.
Tragically, these electrical injuries also account for an average of 4 deaths by electrocution each year. Over seventy percent of these incidents occurred in homes where adult supervision was present at the time of the incident. These unfortunate facts have initiated one of the important changes to the newly released and adopted, 21st edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, revised for 2009: tamper resistant receptacles. |
|
|
| TAMPER RESISTANT RECEPTACLES | |
 Tamper resistant receptacles prevent electricity from leaving the outlet unless both sides of the plug are inserted at the same time.
The TR receptacle will work just like any other electrical outlet except it has a built-in, spring loaded shutter system that closes off the contact openings or slots of the receptacle. When a plug is inserted into the receptacle, both springs are compressed and then open, allowing the metal prongs of the plug to make contact and create an electrical circuit. Because both springs must be compressed at exactly the same time, the shutters will not open when a child attempts to insert an object into only one receptacle opening. Consequently there is no contact with electricity and an injury or tragedy is avoided.
They are a marvelous safety device.
The law will soon require these outlets in schools and daycares.
|
| THE OTHER VICTIMS | |
Adult injuries are usually the result of working on home appliances or electrical circuits, since very few of us still chew on cords.
Shocks from faulty appliances and tools are also common, but are decreasing with the enforcement of the code requirement for Ground Fault Interrupter outlets in any area that is wet (kitchen, bath, laundry) or outdoors. These outlets sense leakage of electricity from the defective item and remove the power instantly (less than 1/40 of a second).
This spring, inspect your outside outlets to make sure they are GFI protected - either at the outlet or at the panel and make sure they have weatherproof covers. It's the law and it saves lives!
Identified by the "TEST/RESET" buttons |
Identified by the "TEST" button |
|
| Ask the Doctor | |
Q. Why is electrical safety such a big deal around the sinks and tub?
Doc Says:
Your skin is a barrier that normally can resist some electricity, but when it is wet, you have
10 x less resistance. That means it will take 1/10 of the electricity to do the same damage. Also, the sink and tub are a direct path to ground (the favourite destination of electricity) and if your body is the link between a live outlet or appliance and the sink or tub you will be severely shocked or even electrocuted. |
| Do YOU have a question for the Doctor? | |  If you have a question about the health of your electrical system or just wondering about a little "plastic surgery", ask the doctor: Just click below and send your question to terry@theshockdoctors.ca |
|
Upgrade your dangerous outdoor receptacle to GFCI protected & weatherproof in May only
* $149 *
($168 VALUE)
 Enjoy convenience, safety and peace of mind by having The Shock Doctors expertly change out unprotected receptacles. They have the equipment and knowledge to get the job done! AND collect AIR MILES® reward miles at the same time!
| | ® TM Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Inc.and Progressive Electrical Services ltd. Offer Expires: May 31st |
Safety -- a small investment for a rich future.
ECRA of the ESA #7001377 |
Cheri 
|
|
|
|
|
|
