• If your electrical panel uses fuses, always replace a fuse with the right amperage fuse. Never substitute a higher amp fuse where a smaller one is called for, since this poses a fire hazard.
• Never change fuses in the dark or while standing on a wet floor.
• If you blow a fuse or throw a breaker by overloading a circuit, make sure that any appliances on that circuit are turned off or unplugged before you replace the fuse or reset the breaker.
• When your home was built, the electrical installation was inspected to ensure that it met the Electrical Safety Code at the time. Keep your wiring safe. If you add to it, be sure to have an electrical inspection.

• Check for rust on your fuse box caused by moisture. It can corrode connections, which can lead to overheating and fire.
• Never replace a burnt out fuse with a coin, even as a temporary measure. Doing so could start a fire.
• Use 'P' fuses for general lighting circuits and circuits to appliances like water heaters, baseboard or portable heaters and stoves.
• 'D' fuses have a built-in delay feature to handle power surges, which occur when heavy appliances are turned on. They should be used for freezers, air conditioners, clothes dryers and electric furnaces.

Electrical Cords

• It's important to use cords properly and keep them well maintained. Electrical cords are insulated to protect you from the electricity running through the wires inside. When an appliance or tool is on, these wires are "live" and could cause shock upon contact.
• Never use a tool or appliance with a frayed cord or where the insulation is nicked and wires are exposed.
• Keep cords clean to prevent insulation from deteriorating.
• Don't wind cords tightly around an object; the stress could cause the small wires inside to snap or break.
• Never run cords under rugs. It conceals damage and can cause the cord to overheat and become a fire hazard.

• Never break off the third prong of a plug. The third prong (the round one) is a grounding wire put there for your protection; it provides a ground path that helps prevent or minimize shocks. Rather than breaking it off to fit an older outlet, replace a two-prong outlet with a three-prong one and make sure the third prong is properly grounded.
• Never nail cords to walls or floors. It punctures the insulation and can short out the wires.
• Don't run cords behind radiators. Heat damage to the insulation can increase the risk of shock.
• Avoid "octopus outlets". Clusters of wires and plugs may mean your electrical system can't cope with your energy needs. It may be time to rewire and add circuits.
  

Electricity and Water Don't Mix!

• Be careful in the bathroom and near sinks. Radios, hairdryers and other electrical appliances are hazardous if you use them near water. If your hands are wet or if you're standing on a damp floor, you could get a serious electrical shock.
  

• Any plugs that are near sources of water should be GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters).