Safety & Education

Play it Safe Around Electricity
We care about the safety of you and your family and that's why we actively promote electrical safety and provide educational programs. Each year, we visit local schools to talk to students about electrical hazards and safety precautions; and we participate in a variety of public service campaigns.

Electricity is very important in our everyday lives. It is a safe, convenient form of energy, but is also very powerful and can be dangerous if used improperly. It can cause fires, shocks, injuries, and even death. Electricity travels at the speed of light -186,000 miles per second. If you come in contact with an electrical current, there is no warning, and there is no time to react. This is why children should be taught about the dangers of electricity from an early age, and why we should continually remind ourselves, and others, as well.

Teach your children to:

• Never climb electric poles or towers.
• Never go near downed power lines or assume a power line on the ground is dead.
• Never climb trees or play with kites, balloons and model airplanes near power lines; and, never try to remove anything from power lines.
• Never put fingers or objects into outlets or appliances, and use outlet covers wherever you can.
• Stay away from electric construction sites.
• Recognize "Danger-High Voltage" signs as well as identify and avoid electric utility equipment.
• Use 9-1-1 to seek help in an electrical emergency.

Remind yourself and others to:

• Never touch downed power lines or use any object to move them.
• Never touch a person who is in contact with power lines or other objects that are touching power lines.
• Remember power lines are not insulated and even wearing rubber clothing or shoes won't help if you touch one.
• Never let ladders, poles, antennas or anything else you're trying to maneuver come in contact with power lines.
• Be aware of power lines when doing any work on the roof such as hanging holiday lights or installing a satellite dish; and, never use metal measuring tapes around power lines.
• Check for electric lines before trimming trees.
• Never dig without knowing the location of underground utilities.
• Never cut or remove a tree that is, or could become, entangled with power lines.
• Only use extension cords rated for outdoor use for outdoor projects.
• Never overload electrical outlets; if you must use an extension cord temporarily, match the amperage and wattage limits of the cord and appliance; and, do not use damaged cords.
• Never break off the ground probe on a three-prong plug.
• Check for outlets that have loose fitting plugs, which can overheat and lead to fire.
• Equip your kitchen and bathrooms with ground fault interrupter outlets (outlets with red reset buttons) to protect you from being shocked.
• Never use a faulty electrical appliance, or one that has a frayed cord, cracked or broken plug, or any appliance that has given someone any kind of shock.
• Never run cords under rugs or furniture; they could become damaged or overheated.
• Never carry appliances by the cords, and always remove cords from outlets by pulling on the plug head.
• Keep extension cords untangled and away from heat and water.
• Keep electric appliances, such as hair dryers, away from sinks, tubs and showers; and never operate an appliance when wet.
• Unplug your toaster before trying to remove stuck toast, muffins or bagels.
• Never place combustibles such as paper, linens, drapes or furniture near space heaters, stoves, toasters or other heat producing appliances.
• Never leave your home with appliances such as space heaters, ovens and range tops operating.
• Check the wattage of all bulbs in light fixtures; replace bulbs with higher wattage than recommended; make sure bulbs are screwed in securely; loose bulbs may overheat.
• Remove any build-up of dust and lint around the electric motor of exhaust fans.
• Clean the lint filter in your clothes dryer after each use.
• Respect any electric emergency scene and treat it as any other emergency scene by keeping your distance.
• Stay inside and wait for rescue workers if your vehicle is touching a power line and you cannot safely drive away; warn others to stay away from the vehicle. If you must get out because of fire or other danger, jump out without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Shuffle away with very small steps.
• Be prepared for power outages during severe storms by keeping flashlights and batteries where they can be found easily. Unplug your appliances during storms to prevent lightning damage, and don't forget lightning can come into your home through cable television and telephone lines as well.
• Never dig, excavate, bore, tunnel, blast or otherwise disturb the earth where buried utilities may be located until you call 1-800-DIG-RITE.