Appliances have protective insulated cords and coverings to keep you from contacting the electricity inside. It's important to use appliances and cords the way they were designed so you don't damage the insulation or contact live electrical parts. If a live wire inside an appliance, toy or power tool touches the inside of the device and you touch the device, it would be like touching a bare live wire. You cannot tell from the outside if there is a problem inside, so you should always act as if there were danger of shock. Next: The Truth About Electric Shock Previous: Electricity, You And Water