Safety at Home

Protect yourself, your home and what you value most. 

Safety Moment Wordmark

Don't let extension cords trip you up. 

A few extra minutes of setup can help keep your family and guests safe. Keep extension cords organized by taping them down or securing them out of walkways to help prevent trips and falls. 

Electricity powers everyday life, but it can also present serious risks if not used carefully. By understanding common hazards and practicing safe habits, you can prevent injuries and serious accidents from happening around your home.



  • Indoors
  • Outdoors
Use cords, outlets and power strips safely and securely.
Power strip

  • Indoors
  • Outdoors
  • Use outlets only for approved devices.
  • Match light bulbs to fixture wattage ratings.
  • Stop using equipment that sparks, overheats or shocks.
  • Unplug by pulling the plug, not the cord.
  • Never run cords under rugs or through doorways.
  • Avoid connecting multiple extension cords together.
  • Keep cords away from high-traffic areas.
  • Use outdoor-rated extension cords outside

  • EV Charging
  • Outdoors
Electric vehicle charging is convenient, but proper equipment and safe charging habits are essential.
Charging EV

  • EV Charging
  • Outdoors
  • Use a dedicated EV charger or circuit.
  • Ensure outdoor outlets are weather-protected.
  • Follow manufacturer charging recommendations.
  • Have charging equipment professionally installed at home.
  • Check public chargers for damage before use.
  • Do not use equipment with exposed wires or broken connectors.
  • Report damaged charging stations when possible.
  • Never force a connection.

  • Indoors
  • Outdoors
Water and electricity don’t mix!
Sink and electornics

  • Indoors
  • Outdoors

Did you know that the water that we use every day, from our bathtubs to our kitchen sinks, conducts electricity? This is why you should:

  • Keep appliances away from sinks, tubs and wet areas.
  • Never use electrical devices with wet hands.
  • Install GFCI protection in damp locations.
  • Dry equipment immediately if exposed to water.
  • Keep power tools dry.
  • Install weatherproof covers on outdoor outlets.

  • Outdoors
  • Power Lines
  • Digging
What number should you call before starting a major digging project?
A person digging at home

  • Outdoors
  • Power Lines
  • Digging

Call 8-1-1 before you start digging!

And don't forget: 

  • Underground power lines may extend from transformers.
  • Always locate utilities before digging.
  • Use extra caution around marked utility lines.
  • Follow all local excavation requirements.

  • Holidays
  • Indoors
  • Outdoors
Deck the halls safely during the holidays.
Christmas lights

  • Holidays
  • Indoors
  • Outdoors
  • Inspect lights and decorations before use.
  • Replace damaged cords or cracked sockets.
  • Use products tested by recognized safety organizations.
  • Turn off decorations before leaving or going to bed.
  • Connect no more than three incandescent light strands together.
  • Keep decorations at least 3 feet from heat sources.
  • Water live trees daily.
  • Choose battery-operated candles whenever possible.

  • Outdoors
  • Transformers
  • Power Lines
Transformers are not toys. Stay safe around the green box! 
outdoor box

  • Outdoors
  • Transformers
  • Power Lines
  • Keep children away from transformers.
  • Never place objects into transformer openings.
  • Do not paint or decorate utility equipment.
  • Report damaged or unlocked transformers immediately.

  • Digging
  • Outdoors
  • Power Lines
Work safely outside your home to prevent contact with power lines.
Powerlines

  • Digging
  • Outdoors
  • Power Lines
  • Stay at least 30 feet from power lines.
  • Never trim, climb or remove trees near power lines.
  • Use wood or fiberglass ladders when working outside, not metal.
  • Contact Evergy if vegetation is growing into electrical lines.
  • Assume all power lines are energized.

  • Winter
  • Indoors
Use space heaters safely and effectively.
Heater inside home

  • Winter
  • Indoors
  • Plug directly into a wall outlet.
  • Never use extension cords or power strips.
  • Keep at least 3 feet from anything flammable.
  • Place on a flat, stable surface.

  • Outdoors
  • Generators
True or False: it's safe to operate a generator indoors.
Person using a generator outside

  • Outdoors
  • Generators

False. Never operate a generator inside. Portable generators can keep essential devices running during an outage, but incorrect use can create serious fire, shock and carbon monoxide hazards. 

More tips:

  • Keep it at least 20 feet from your home.
  • Point exhaust away from doors, windows, and vents.
  • Never use it in garages or partially enclosed spaces.
  • Follow manufacturer's operating instructions.
  • Use heavy-duty extension cords designed for generator use.
  • Turn appliances on one at a time.
  • Protect the generator from rain and standing water.

Backfeed happens when electricity flows the wrong way through your home’s wiring. This creates a dangerous level of electricity that puts our line workers at risk of severe injury. To keep yourself and our crews safe, never plug a generator into a wall outlet—use a power transfer switch that has been installed by a certified electrician, or turn off your main breaker before using a portable generator.

Electricity powers everyday life, but it can also present serious risks if not used carefully. By understanding common hazards and practicing safe habits, you can prevent injuries and serious accidents from happening around your home.

Teach Kids About Electrical Safety

Electricity is not a toy. Help the children in your life stay safe by teaching them to use caution around electricity. Explore games and activities you can use at home and in the classroom. 

Children are naturally curious, so it’s important to talk with them about how to stay safe around electricity, both inside and outdoors. Young children, especially toddlers, can easily find areas with potential electrical hazards, so it’s important to teach and demonstrate electrical safety, and childproof your home to keep kids safe.

Safety Moment Teachable Moment 
Cover all outlets throughout your home.
Teach children not to stick anything in an outlet except for a plug.
 
Move or tuck away wires from reach and check to make sure they’re insulated.
 
Teach children not to play with wires or cords.
Stay at least 30 feet away from power lines. Teach children to look up before climbing trees to make sure there are no power lines, and to not fly kites or play with drones near power lines.
 
Install child safety locks and store appliances in cabinets when not in use.
Teach children only to use electronic appliances with adult supervision.
Avoid using electric appliances in areas of your home with water (like bathrooms).
Teach children that water and electricity don’t mix.