BILLINGS - Fear of electricity can scare even the most ambitious "Do it Yourself" home owner. And for good reason say electricians and hospital workers. All those wires are more than confusing, they're downright dangerous.

"In the right condition the 120 volt could actually kill you." says Vice President of Yellowstone Electric Alan Anseth. "Working with something that's a higher voltage, you can do damage to your internal organs." Says Nurse Brad VonBergen; VonBergen is the coordinator for the Trauma Program at Billings Clinic.

"It does happen quite a bit when we've had to go out and re-circuit things that haven't been circuited correctly, or figure out why the light switch doesn't work." says Anseth. He and VonBergen agree that if all you do is wire a light switch wrong, you're lucky. "We'll get the occasional burn from electrical. They forget to turn the power off or think they turn the power off and get the wrong fuse."

Anseth says there are things you can do yourself, but you run a risk. "You have to keep in mind if you go to sell the house and things have been done and you do for example a running splice or a splice in a wire in a wall which is not legal, it does create an unsafe condition for the homeowner to purchase the home." Unsafe because bad wiring can cause fires.

Putting in a ceiling fan by yourself is another project to be cautious with. "If you install a ceiling fan without using the proper ceiling box to support the fan, the fan can actually come down on you." says Anseth. The longtime electrician says the best way to keep you and your family safe, is ask a professional if you're unsure. Anseth also says things like outlet installation or changing out a light switch are tasks usually left to the homeowner.