AmerenUE Offers Holiday Safety Tips
December 03 2007 - 11:43AM
PR Newswire (US)
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- More than ice and snow can be
dangerous during the glorious goings-on of the holiday season.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, hospital
emergency rooms treat about 12,500 people each year for injuries
resulting from falls, cuts and shocks and from fires caused by
holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees. What's more, the
National Fire Protection Association reports that four of every 10
Christmas tree fires are caused by an electrical problem or
malfunction -- the remainders are caused by placing a heat source
too close to the tree. To help make the holiday season safe, use
electricity and natural gas safely. The key to staying safe is
watching for and correcting problems with cords and faulty sockets
and handling wiring with care. Jerking on a wire can break
insulation and damage plugs. Avoid walking on extension wires.
Replace faulty or loose wall sockets, and avoid placing too many
appliances on one outlet or socket. Here are some other safety tips
for electricity: -- Inspect all holiday lights for broken or
cracked sockets. Look for frayed or bare wires, loose connections
or damaged plugs. Throw away damaged light sets. -- Never overload
electrical circuits or outlets. Use Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
(UL) certified surge protector strips if multiple outlets are
required. -- Never string together more than three standard light
sets. -- Keep holiday lights away from toddlers. Push the wires
inward toward the center of the tree and clip wires securely to
branches. -- For outdoor lighting, use UL-certified lights approved
for outdoor use. Also, use heavy duty UL-certified outdoor
extension cords. -- Plug outdoor cords into GFCI (ground fault
circuit interrupter) outlets. It is suggested that GFCI outlets be
used for indoor lights, as well. -- Do not run outdoor light wiring
or outdoor extension cords through door and window openings where
they can be damaged. -- Keep electrical connections off the ground
and away from water. -- Only use insulated staples to attach
extension cords and lights to wood. Never use nails, tacks or
regular staples. -- Make certain lights, decorations and other
electrical devices are disconnected when installing or working on
them. -- Never leave Christmas tree lights on when away from your
residence. -- Do not place cords under rugs or carpets, where they
can be walked upon or where someone can trip over them. -- Use
flame-resistant ornaments and decorations around the Christmas
tree. -- When selecting a live tree, make certain the branches are
fresh and the trunk is sticky with sap. Needles should bend, not
break, and should be hard to pull off branches. Keep the tree
holder base filled with water. -- Keep trees away from fireplaces,
wood-burning stoves, radiators, heat registers and other sources of
heat. -- If you select an artificial tree, select one that has been
tested and labeled as being fire-resistant. Trees with built-in
electric systems should have the UL certification label. -- Never
replace a fuse with one designed for a higher amperage or with a
coin. A fuse that repeatedly blows or a circuit-breaker that
repeatedly trips is an indication of an overloaded circuit. If the
problem continues after unplugging lights or devices, have the
circuit inspected by an electrician. -- Do not place fans or space
heaters where small children can touch or fall upon them. Never
leave operating space heaters unattended. -- Use common sense with
new gifts. Never use electrical appliances in or around water.
Never immerse electrical appliances in water. -- Never leave an
unattended iron plugged in. -- Make certain the UL certification
label is attached to any electrical device you purchase or use. --
Keep electrical devices clean and periodically check them. Safety
tips for natural gas: -- Natural gas furnace owners should be aware
of, and take precautions against, carbon monoxide poisoning --
dubbed the "silent killer." This advice also should be heeded by
those with fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, natural gas/propane
water heaters and fossil fuel space heaters. -- It is recommended
that carbon monoxide detectors be placed in homes and apartments.
-- To help avoid the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, it
is recommended that a qualified plumber or heating professional
annually inspect and clean furnace systems. Special attention needs
to be paid to the flue. A rusty or loose fitting flue may cause a
vent to malfunction. Improper venting of a furnace may result in
carbon monoxide poisoning. Flues that also vent through walls must
be clear of snow, leaves and other types of blockage to prevent
Carbon Monoxide from backing into the home. (Explanation: The flue
is the opening that vents the products of combustion from the
furnace and water heater to the outdoors. Fireplaces, wood-burning
stoves and vented space heaters also have flues. If the flue is
blocked or damaged, the products of combustion may leak into the
home, including carbon monoxide. Even in small quantities, carbon
monoxide is deadly -- one-fourth of 1 percent of carbon monoxide
(2,500 parts per million) is lethal within 30 minutes. Indications
that carbon monoxide may be present include high humidity,
steamed-up windows, the odor of exhaust or a furnace flame that is
partly yellow rather than a steady blue with a sharp pointed shape.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may be similar to those of
influenza, including dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea,
irregular heartbeat, ringing in the ears, violent coughing, seeing
spots and even unconsciousness. If you or a member of your
household experience symptoms, get fresh air immediately. Ventilate
your home by opening windows and doors. Call the Poison Control
Center at 1-800-222-1222 and seek immediate medical attention. Call
a qualified plumber or heating professional to inspect your
appliances.) -- If your furnace or heating system is equipped with
an air filter, follow manufacturer recommendations in cleaning or
replacing that filter. You may need to clean or replace filters
more frequently if you have pets. -- Never hang any item from a
natural gas or propane pipe. The added weight could pull down the
pipe. -- Never use the kitchen oven as a heating source. Natural
gas ovens produce carbon monoxide that will escape into the house
when the oven door is left open. In addition, the oven could
overheat and cause a fire. Cooking with the oven is safe because
the oven cycles on and off when the oven door is closed. -- Never
store combustible materials within a few feet of the furnace or
water heater. -- Call a qualified plumber or heating professional
to inspect the furnace if it cycles on or off with a loud noise or
otherwise malfunctions. Ignition should be smooth and quiet in a
properly maintained furnace. -- Natural gas contains an odorant
that smells like rotten eggs. If you notice a slight smell, follow
your nose to the source -- it may be something you can easily and
safely correct, such as an unlit pilot light or a partially ignited
burner valve. If it's a strong smell, or if it's a slight smell
that does not go away, open your windows and doors. Do not turn
lights off or on. Do not activate any electrical device. Leave the
building, and then call AmerenUE immediately. Visit the Ameren Web
site (http://www.ameren.com/) for more safety tips or other
information about Ameren. AmerenUE serves 1.2 million electric and
125,000 natural gas customers in Missouri. Ameren's utility
companies provide energy services to 2.4 million electric and
nearly one million natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile
service area in Illinois and Missouri. DATASOURCE: AmerenUE
CONTACT: Tim Fox, +1-314-554-3120, or Susan Gallagher,
+1-314-554-2175, or Mike Cleary, +1-573-681-7137, all of AmerenUE
Web site: http://www.ameren.com/
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