Teach Kids About School Electrical Safety

The new school year is a good time to teach your children about electrical safety. Some bases to cover:

Stay away from power lines and transformers at school, along the way and anywhere else.

Don’t stick pens, pencils or other objects into electrical outlets. An average of seven children a day are treated in hospitals for burns or electric shocks because they tampered with wall outlets.

Warn teens who drive that they should move over and slow down when they see utility crews working on the road.

If an electrical power line is on the street, assume it’s live and stay well away from it.

Don’t plug too many devices into an electrical outlet or a power strip. Older college dorms carry increased risk as the wiring often isn’t equipped for an overload.

Fly kites and drones far away from power lines. Electricity always finds the quickest way to the ground, which could be down a kite string if it touches an energized power line. If a flying toy hits a power line, it could cause a power outage or worse, a downed power line, which is extremely hazardous.

Stay away from electrical substations. If a ball or toy ends up over the fence surrounding a substation, please call Bandera Electric Cooperative for help. Substations should only be entered by trained professionals with the proper safety equipment.

Never play on transformers. Underground padmount transformers should be clearly marked with a safety warning. Teach kids not to climb on or play around these boxes.

Don’t climb trees near power lines. If branches touch the wires, the tree could be energized. Even branches that are close, but not touching a power line, could become dangerous in windy conditions or if the weight of a child is added.

Electricity and water don’t mix. Keep all electrical equipment away from water.

Never yank an electric cord from the wall. Pulling the cord could damage the appliance, plug or outlet. Remove the appliance safely by pulling on the plug.