Most of you live in a dwelling that has electricity. This archaic technology makes many things possible in you life. Unfortunately, electricity can be deadly if used improperly. As stated before, the information provided is not all inclusive. You will have to research you own situation and, if possible, use common sense.

For most uses, electricity is distributed through outlets, placed in rooms or compartments, usually about one foot from the floor. One can identify these outlets by the appearance of a rectangle. The usually plastic rectangle has two female electrical receptacles mounted flush to its housing. These receptacles appear as three openings, two slots, slightly separated, that appear to be about 10mm in size. Below or avoe the slots is one hole that is of a half-moon design. If you have trouble finding these outlets, check out information on the web or have a neighbor point them out to you.

The outlets are used for plugging in various types of electrical devices-radios, lamps, hairdryers, etc. If you are familiar with electrical devices, you may have already plugged in one of these items. For the electrical device, a plug consists of two, thin rectangular shafts. Additoonall;y, some plugs also have a semi-round shaft above or below the two thin shafts. If you observe the plug, then look at the wall outlet, you will notice that the plug can be pushed into the opening in the wall.

Some devices have only two shafts. The wall outlet will only allow you to put the plug-in device correctly. One of the thin shafts on the plug is larger and one of the wall openings is larger than the other one.

Here are some tips for using electricity in your dwelling:

Lightbulbs-Do not put 100 watt bulbs in the four outlets above the lavatory in you bathroom. The maximum wattage that you can use is usually printed on a tag attached to the light receptacle.

In using a ceiling multi-receptacle like a fancy chandelier, use only the light bulbs rated for the item. I have seen such a light fixture holding 6-100 watt bulbs. This is more wattage than some radio stations! This ignorant effort burned up a lot of the wiring in the ceiling of the house, and welded the bulbs into the sockets.

In short-make sure that the light bulb wattage does not exceed the manufacturer's recommendation.

Place plastic shield over the wall receptacle outlets so that small children can't access the openings. This is an important safety move if you have small children.

Never defeat your fuse breakers. the breaker is designed to burn out before your house burns. Don't mess with the fuse breaker. If your fuse breaker goes off, consult an electrician.

Small electric space heaters-Check out the web for saafety tips on these units. I recommend that you never operate one if you are not awake in the room with it.

It's best to get an electrician if you have a problem or question concerning electricity. Unless you are fully knowledgeable on what you are doing, liave it up to the experts. You might think you can save a few bucks installing that clothes dryer outlet by yourself. However, you might also wind up with your family having higher funeral bills for that month.

Here are some tips if you have children in your dwelling:

A small child can get into stuff fast. make sure that you keep all household cleaning supplies locked up or in a cabinet with some kind of safety latch. The web is a good spot to check out what is available.

Extension cord-back to electricity-never leave a plugged-in extension cord in an area where there is a small child. this is particularly true if there are no devices plugged into the cord.

Kitchen Stove-Never leave the stove unattended while a child is in the area. It only takes several seconds for an accident.

All medicines, cough syrup, etc. should be kept out of reach of small children.

Always serve snack on a plate, in a cup or saucer to a small child. My own son almost chocked to death wile eating a piece of cake. The cake was placed on a table where a small plastic toy was-he swallowed the small toy along with some cake. I was fortunate enough to make him cough up the plastic piece. He's ok-now a professor with a terminal degree.

Here are some tips on other stuff around the dwelling"

Plastic Bags-You know, those thin take-home ones that you brought home with your groceries in. These could become chocking items for small children. Dispose of in a safe manner.

Stay with a small child while he or she is bathing. If the phone rings, let it ring! Don't leave the child unattended in a tub or pan at any time.

Roden Poison-If you have a small child, thay are curious and get into things all the time. Don't leave Rodent Poison around where a small child can ingest the stuff. It's best, if you use the stuff, to have it in a basement or under the porch; somewhere a small child never will go.

Household cleaning products-Don't mix bleach and ammonia. Follow procedures for cleaning the item off of you if you get the stuff on your body. Check out procedures at many sites on the web.

And check out the web for valuable information on poison. The Poison Control Center is a good place to start. you could have the procedure for stuff in your eyes, on your skin, etc. posed on the refrigerator or in a place common to family member.

I wish I had more safety tips for you. However, the information is out there, it's free and it's important to you and your family's safety.

Learn more about safety around the home and stay secure.

Gene Smith is a writer from West Virginia. He is the father of two sons and lives near Charles Town. He holds a B.A. and is listed in Who's Who in America,2005.