I sometimes forget how powerful and dangerous electricity can be.

I've been working on it for >15 years but this morning I received an electric shock that words can not explain.

This inspired me to tweet about electrical safety in our homes.

#Thread

Read through the tweets below to have an idea of how to stay safe around the home - particularly in the kitchen, bathroom, living and bed rooms.

Starting with kitchen safety:

Never use electrical equipment when your hands are wet.

Don’t leave electrical appliances like dishwashers.

Don’t wrap flexible cables around any equipment when it is still warm.

Check that flexible leads and appliances such as kettles and toasters are in good condition.

Don’t try to repair an appliance when it is still plugged in.

Never try to get toast that is stuck out of a toaster while it is plugged in, and especially not with a metal knife as there are often live parts inside.

Make sure you thoroughly clean your oven and grill – a build up of fat and grease is a major cause of fire.

Check your plug sockets are not overloaded.

Avoid storing objects on top of appliances like the microwave, which can block ventilation.

To avoid water coming into contact with electricity, make sure that your sockets or switches are fitted at a safe distance (at least 30cm horizontally) from the sink.

Next is Bathroom safety.

Water carries electricity efficiently. But, if the two mix, the result can be deadly.

So, the bathroom is possibly the most dangerous room in the house when it comes to electrical safety.

The consequences of an electric shock are far more severe in a bathroom as wet skin reduces the body’s resistance.

Sockets are not allowed in bathrooms (apart from shaver-supply units) unless they can be fitted at least three metres from the bath or shower.

Electrical shaver points must be a safe distance (in meters) from the bath to avoid splashes.

Everyday light switches are dangerous because of dampness and wet hands.

A ceiling-mounted pull-cord switch is the safest option.

Never bring mains-powered portable appliances such as hairdryers, heaters or radios into a bathroom.

You could be severely injured or killed.

In the living room and bed rooms, overloaded sockets are deadly.

Please people, stay safe in your home.

Electricity can kill.

Electricity is now the major cause of accidental fires in homes.

What could go wrong here?

Just imagine!

And this!

Another common electrical unsafe act.

Can you identify all the unsafe condition in this picture?

End of #Thread