Safety Tips For Correctly Operating A Generator
It's been almost two years since most of us have used our generators during Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
Remember, sadly more lives in SWLA were taken from carbon monoxide poisoning after Hurricane Laura than the actual storm took.
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Here are some safety tips when operating a generator:
- Have a battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm inside your home where you are staying.
- Make sure your generator is in a well-ventilated area. Please keep it away from doors, windows, and vents. Do not bring it inside your home.
- Have a long enough extension cord to have your generator running at a safe distance outside. Also, make sure you use a cord capable of handling the power, like a 12 or 14-gauge cord.
- Change the oil when you have run the generator at the number of hours suggested by the manufacturer.
- Let your generator cool before refilling the gas. Gasoline is highly flammable and could ignite if you spill it on a hot generator.
Check out the video below for more great generator safety tips:
The National Institutes of Health reports that carbon monoxide (CO) can kill a person in under five minutes. What makes CO so dangerous is that the gas is odorless, tasteless, and colorless.
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