Every week in the UK someone dies in an electrical accident at home, and one in eight has had a serious electrical shock1.
Yet as the summer holidays start, and as the number of electrical items children use grows exponentially, new research commissioned by the Electrical Safety Council2 shows just how little the UK thinks about electrical safety: almost 13 million homes in the UK3 do not have adequate RCD (residual current device)4 protection – which can save your life, protect against dangerous electrical shock and reduce the risk of electrical fires.
So, as we gear up for the summer holidays, when millions of children will be spending time at home and parents across the UK turn to electrical gadgets to keep them amused, the Electrical Safety Council is raising awareness of the dangers of electricity in the home and garden by encouraging us to take a few minutes to check our electrics and use RCD protection. An RCD is a sensitive switching device – different to a circuit breaker - that quickly turns the electricity off when danger arises to reduce the risk of death or serious injury. They can be bought from your local hardware store and plug-in versions cost less than £10.
Campaign supporter, celebrity builder Tommy Walsh says: “Check your electrics and don’t use any appliances, lighting and switches that are faulty or visibly damaged. And, if you don’t already have it, consider fitting RCD protection. A plug-in RCD costs as little as £10 from most garden or hardware stores. Or consider upgrading to a modern fuse box with built-in RCDs. It could be a life-saver”.
The ESC wants the Plug into Safety campaign to increase awareness of RCDs in much the same way that smoke alarms were promoted by the Government’s ‘Fire Kills’ campaign. When ‘Fire Kills’ started only 9% of households had smoke alarms – now they are in over 80% of homes. With help from a range of partners – including the fire service, housing providers, government and electricians - the ESC aims to take RCDs mainstream.
Electrical Safety Council
The Electrical Safety Council is an independent charity committed to reducing deaths and injuries through electrical accidents at home and at work.
Aug 2010
References
1 Figure established from World Health Organisation, Health & Safety Executive and Communities and Local Government data.
2 Ipsos MORI omnibus, between 14 and 17 May 2010. 1025 interviews conducted (Adults 16 to 64)
3 Figures derived from BRE data.
4 An RCD is a sensitive switching device that quickly turns the electricity off when danger arises to reduce the risk of death or serious injury. RCD protection is particularly important when using electrical equipment outdoors.
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Child Water Safety in the Garden
