Along with the birds and the bees: Discuss electrical safety with kids
Oftentimes, when the topic of electronics and children comes up, the conversation gravitates toward the pros and cons of screen time or maybe trading tips on the best educational apps. However, an often-overlooked topic is how to talk to your children about the potential safety hazards associated with electronics, sources of electricity, and their environment in general. As soon as children can walk, parents and caregivers should discuss with them how to be safe around electricity, both inside the home and when playing outdoors.
Claverack and Safe Electricity recommend sharing these outdoor safety tips with children of all ages:
- Do not touch or go near a sagging or downed power line. Instead, tell an adult to call the electric utility to report it.
- Never climb trees near power lines.
- Fly kites, model airplanes, remote-control flying toys and drones in large, open areas, such as parks or fields, far away from power lines. If any of these items (or any item or object) gets caught in a power line, never try to retrieve it. Tell an adult to call the electric utility for help.
- Never fly kites or other toys when a thunderstorm may be approaching.
- Never climb a utility pole or tower. The electricity carried through this equipment could kill you.
- Never go into an electric substation for any reason. Electric substations contain high-voltage equipment, which can kill you. Never rescue a pet or retrieve a ball or toy that goes inside the fenced area surrounding a substation. Tell an adult to call the electric utility instead.
- Always stay away from outdoor electrical equipment marked “keep out,” “high voltage” or “danger.”
- Do not play, sit or climb on a padmount transformer, a.k.a. green box. (Note to adults: While green boxes are typically safe to be around, it is better to leave this equipment alone just in case a box has become unlocked or vandalized, or the contents or box have become damaged in some way: by a roadside accident or by unwelcomed varmints or ants, for example. Please call us to report an unlocked cabinet or any signs of damage.)
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