Will Your House Kill You?

Some everyday items are more (or less) dangerous than you think.

- Eleanor Hildebrandt

Electrical Outlets

The Fear: If you stick a fork or a bobby pin in a socket, you’ll be electrocuted. The Reality: If you stick something in a socket, you could get a nasty shock. The left slot is connected to the neutral wire, the right is connected to the hot one, and the electricity flows from hot to neutral. Sticking something into either slot will disrupt the flow and send it into you.

Will It Kill You? It might. A jolt from a standard 120-volt outlet could trigger cardiac arrest.

Toasters

The Fear: Fishing a slice of bread out of a toaster with silverware will electrocute you.

The Reality: While chances of electrocution are slim, it’s still a bad idea to stick anything besides bread into a toaster, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Even if you unplug the appliance, you could damage the heating element, which could shock you or start a fire the next time you make toast.

Will It Kill You? The odds are pretty remote. You largely risk a shock or perhaps a burn.

Small Appliances Around Water

The Fear: If you plug in an appliance while your hands are wet, moisture will transfer the current from the plug to you.