To ensure that you and your family stay safe the City of Redding would like to offer the following safety tips.

Indoor Safety Tips

• Make sure unused wall outlets have safety coverings.

• Check that extension cords are correctly rated for the amount electricity they are to carry and are Underwriter Laboratory (UL) approved.

• Make sure extension and lamp cords are out of traffic areas.

• All family members should be aware that they should not touch electrical devices when they are wet, standing on wet surfaces or in water.

• Small appliances (hair dryers, mixers, toasters, etc.) should be unplugged when not in use.

• Check that all appliances and electric equipment are located away from the sink and bath.

• In high-risk areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, standard outlets should be replaced with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters ( GFCI’s).

• Never insert any metal object, such as a knife or fork, into an appliance.

• Make sure you are using the correct wattage and proper kind of light bulb in an overhead or ceiling fixture. The wrong type of bulb can lead to overheating and fire. If you are not sure of the correct wattage, use a bulb no larger than 60 watts.

• Do not overload outlets – to many appliances drawing current from the same outlet can pose a fire hazard.
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Outdoor Safety Tips

• Make sure unused wall outlets have safety coverings.

• Check that extension cords are correctly rated for the amount electricity they are to carry and are Underwriter Laboratory (UL) approved.

• All family members should be aware that they should not touch electrical devices when they are wet, standing on wet surfaces or in water.

• In high-risk areas such as near swimming pools, standard outlets should be replaced with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters ( GFCI’s).

• Maintain a safe distance from overhead lines by keeping ladders, etc. at least 10 feet away from electric lines.

• To report a downed line call (530) 245-7000 or 911. Never touch or go near, or let anyone else go near, any fallen wires, even if you think they are safe. If you are in a vehicle that comes in contact with a downed line, stay in the vehicle until help arrives. If possible, drive clear of the wires. If a fire or other emergency requires you to exit the vehicle, do so by jumping out so that no part of you touches the ground and the vehicle at the same time.

• Do not climb power poles, transmission towers, or trees with wires near them.

• Do not throw rocks or other objects at equipment on poles.

• Do not touch Redding Electric Utility (REU) electric meters or other power equipment behind buildings or stores.

• Stay away from railroad tracks, wire fences, etc. that may be using electricity that you don’t know about.

• Stay clear of anything that says “High Voltage”.
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Spring / Summer Safety Tips

• Make certain that no electric lines are over the pool and that TV antennas are at least ten feet away from electric lines.

• Do not place electric devices close to a swimming pool where they could accidentally fall into the water.

• Outdoor outlets should have waterproof covers. If moisture gets into outlets a shock hazard results. Standard outdoor outlets should be replaced with GFCI’s.

• If you are caught in a lightning storm while swimming, get out of the water and stay away from trees. Go indoors and keep clear of the windows.

• Never use wire, tinsel or other metal in your kite. Fishing line often contains wire and shouldn’t be used.

• Fly your kite or model airplane in open areas, far from power lines. If your kite gets caught in a power line, leave it there and call (530) 245-7000 for assistance.

• Do not fly your kite in bad weather.
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Fall / Winter Safety Tips

• Never leave electric heaters and hot plates unattended when in use.

• Outdoor outlets should have waterproof covers. If moisture gets into outlets a shock hazard results. Standard outdoor outlets should be replaced with GFCI’s.

• Keep a flashlight and enough fresh batteries handy, for each member of your family so no one will be left in the dark if the lights go out.

• Call us at (530) 339-7200 if someone in your household uses life-support equipment. Whenever we anticipate a severe storm, we will call you so that you can make advance preparations. Every effort will be made to restore your electricity as quickly as possible during severe storms; however, you should realize that there might be occasions when timely notification is difficult. Therefore, we encourage life-support customers to ensure that their medical needs are taken care of in the event of a power outage.

• Standby generators require special considerations before being connected and should be installed only by licensed electricians. Improperly connected generators can present severe hazards to our repair crews working on nearby electric lines. Call (530) 245-7000 before hooking up a generator.
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Holiday Safety Tips

• When putting up lights or decorations on houses or in trees stay away from overhead power lines. Do not use aluminum ladders.

• Unplug lights before leaving.

• Check cords carefully before use, do not use if frayed.

• Read and follow instructions for extension cords carefully.

• Do not string too many lights together, follow instructions.

• Unplug cords when you string lights.

• Never overload outlets.

• Never use indoor lights outdoors.

• Keep paper and tinsel away from lights.

• Keep lights and electrical cords away from water.

• Flame retardant does not mead flame proof – use caution.

• Never leave burning candles unattended.

• Do not allow candles to burn too low.
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Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI’s)

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI’s) are devices that will provide shock protection by quickly cutting off the circuit and preventing injury.

GFCI’s constantly monitor electricity flowing into a circuit to detect a loss of current. If the electricity flowing through the circuit differs by a slight amount from that returning, the GFCI will quickly shut off the current flowing through that circuit. The advantage of using a GFCI is that they detect even those amounts of electricity too small for your fuse or circuit breaker to activate and shut off the circuit. GFCI’s work quickly, so they can help protect you from severe shock and electrocution.

Three types of GFCI’s designed for home use are readily available, inexpensive and fairly simple to install:

1. Wall receptacle GFCI – This type of GFCI is used in place of a standard receptacle found throughout the house. It fits into a standard outlet box and protects against ground faults whenever an electrical product is plugged into the outlet.
2. Circuit Breaker GFCI – In homes equipped with circuit breakers, this type of GFCI may be installed in a panel box to give protection to selected circuits. A circuit breaker GFCI serves a dual purpose: it shuts off electricity in the event of a ground of ground fault and will also trip when circuit or an overload occurs.
3. Portable GFCI – A portable GFCI requires no special knowledge or equipment to install. One type contains the GFCI circuitry in a self-contained enclosure with plug blades in the back and receptacle slots in the front. It can then be plugged into a receptacle, and the electrical products are plugged into GFCI. Another type of portable GFCI is an extension cord combined with a GFCI. It adds flexibility in using receptacles that are not protected by GFCIs.

Once a GFCI is installed, it must be checked monthly to determine that it is operating properly. Units can be checked by pressuring the “TEST” button; the GFCI should disconnect the power to that outlet. Pressing the “RESET” button reconnects the power. If the GFCI does not disconnect the power, an electrician should be called.
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