ST. LOUIS — Ameren Missouri's fire safety engineer Tim Frankenberg says there are 5 tips to stay safe to avoid summertime electrical hazards that could cause injury or fires.
The first one is having the wrong kind of exterior outlet. Exterior outlets should be upgraded to Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters(GFCIs). These are fast-acting circuit breakers designed to shut off electric power. Frankenberg says most electrocutions happen inside the home.
"We need to have those (GFCIs) year-round. We have a hazard whether we're doing Christmas lights in the wintertime, or we're doing things around the pool, around sprinklers or home improvements in the summertime," Frankenberg said.
National data from the U.S. Fire Administration says in the last 10 years, electrical fires have increased by 6% nationwide.
In recent years, data from the city of St. Louis says the fire department's fourth highest call volume for emergencies happens during the month of June.
The St. Louis Fire Department said it's also keeping an eye on the summertime hazards because its firefighters that have to be sent to the scenes of the fires.
The fire department and Ameren both say the second and the most common electrical hazard they see is charging devices near splash zones.
"You want to charge your phone right by the pool? Don't do it," Captain Garon Mosby said. "It's just a matter of seconds before something goes wrong and gets kicked in or you have a powerline there and then you have an electrocution and a problem."
The third electrical hazard to avoid in the summer is using equipment that isn't meant to be used outside. The fire department said to make sure to use cords, lights and fans that are rated for outdoor use.
The fourth hazard comes into play if you are doing yard work in trees or on the roof. The power company says it is important to stay clear of power lines when doing yard work.
"We want to stay at least 10 feet away from from those overhead lines. If you have to get closer there's work that's got to be done — siding, whatever type of work needs to be done around the house — Ameren can come in," Frankenberg said.
Utility crews can put orange cover over power lines to protect you as a homeowner and anyone doing work near the powerlines.
The last electrical hazard tip for the summertime is to call 811 before you dig. Ameren said that's because there could be underground utility lines that aren't clearly marked.
If you plan on having summer gatherings outside, utility crews say it's best not to hang decorations from utility poles. They can cause shock hazards and power outages.
In the event of an electrical fire, you should call 911. Utility crews are dispatched with fire crews at the scenes to shut off power to ensure everyone's safety.