Mike is watching live cricket match on television with his family and suddenly the light goes out due to a short circuit. Since the match is at crucial juncture and the electrician will take time to reach, so he decides to short out the problem by himself. As he started checking circuit breakers he got a strong electrical shock. The shock was so strong that he became unconscious. He was saved anyhow.

Like Mike a number of people used to repair the electrical faults by himself. Some do it to save money, some do it due to lack of time, while some take it as a DIY activity. Whatever be the reason it is highly risky task and the shocks could lead you to death. This has been asserted by a recent survey conducted by New EnergyAustralia.

The research shows that householders trying to cut costs start doing electrical work themselves, which is illegal for them. Any such work should be done by a qualified electrician. George Maltabarow, EnergyAustralia's managing director, said as part of a $1.8million safety campaign more than 1200 people had been surveyed to check their knowledge of electricity.

According to Mr Maltabarow, "There were 311 reports of people receiving electrical shocks in their homes across our electricity network last financial year. Although this number has come down from the previous year, it is still too high. People who attempt their own electrical DIY are putting their lives in their own hands. By law, all electrical wiring around the home, such as relay sockets and power points, must be completed by a qualified electrician. There should be no short cuts on electrical safety. If you notice an electrical fault around your home, call a qualified electrician to make the repairs."

The Research Findings:

• One-in-four people mistakenly think moving fallen power-cables with a wooden broom handle and cleaning up debris on top of fallen powerlines while wearing rubber-soled boots and rubber gloves was safe.
• 60 % people had used an extension cord to power something outside the house. However only half of them used a cord specifically designed for outdoor use.
• Around 51 % people wrongly believe that wearing rubber-soled shoes would protect them from getting an electric shock in an unsafe electrical situation.
• Only 43 % people always called a licensed electrician when there was a problem any problem regarding electricity or electrical appliances.