May is National Electric Safety Month
LIPA Will Observe Electric Safety Month With a Series of Special Educational
Events For Children and Adults
Uniondale, NY—April 25, 2006—Nationally, hundreds of people are killed
and more than 10,000 people are injured from electricity related incidents in
the home and on the job, according to industry statistics. Most of these deaths
and injuries could be prevented with an increased awareness of electric safety.
In its ongoing efforts to heighten public awareness of electric safety the
Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is conducting its annual series of safety
demonstrations and public events in May to underscore the importance of National
Electric Safety Month.
“Annually there are tragic reminders nation-wide that it is essential to
begin teaching children early on about the importance of electric safety,” said
LIPA Chairman Richard Kessel. “LIPA recognizes that people of all ages must be
mindful of the importance of electric safety in their homes, schools, workplaces
and in the outdoor environment.”
Thursday, May 4, 2006, LIPA Electric Contact Demonstration Event.
LIPA recognizes the importance of sending a strong message to children
and adults about the hazards of electric line contact. To underscore this
message, a simulated contact demonstration will take place at 9:30 AM and 2:30
PM, at the Lineman’s Academy in Hicksville. Students from local area schools
will be on hand to view the demonstration. This dramatic demonstration will show
what happens when various items such as mylar balloons, tree limbs and other
objects come in contact with high voltage lines. The results are very
impressive.
Saturday and Sunday, May 6 & 7, 2006, LIPA and the Long Island Children’s Museum Teach
Electric Safety.
On Saturday and Sunday, May 6 & 7, at 1:30 PM, LIPA will present “Power Town” in the
Children’s Museum’s theater. During this fun, interactive and free presentation,
children and adults will learn how electricity moves throughout the community to
provide light when it gets dark, heat our homes, and power our computers,
televisions and other appliances. The program also contains valuable information
to help children avoid potentially dangerous situations. It’s the third year
that LIPA and the Children’s Museum have conducted this innovative outreach
effort.
Tuesday, May 9, 2006, The Lineman’s Academy Safety Demonstration.
LIPA and the I.B.E.W. Local 1049 will conduct an Electric Safety Day at
the union’s Long Island headquarters in Hauppauge. Local area grade school
students will learn what it is like to work on electric lines, ride in a bucket
truck and use equipment just like the men and women who maintain LIPA’s electric
transmission and distribution system. LIPA and I.B.E.W. Local 1049 have also
arranged for a variety of interactive exhibits to teach students about electric
safety. In addition to various table displays depicting the do’s and don’ts of
electric safety, children will be given an opportunity to use a lineman’s “hot
stick” to place rubber safety sleeving on a non-electrified line and go into the
bucket of a lineman’s bucket truck for a “lift” up into the air. (Note: No live
electric lines are used during these demonstrations.)
Friday, May 26, Annual Electric Safety Poster Contest Awards Ceremony
Young people learn by doing. To make electric safety fun, LIPA invited
all third, fourth and fifth grade students in the LIPA service territory to
participate in LIPA’s Eighth Annual Electric Safety Poster Contest. Twelve Grand
Winners will be selected, and their winning posters will be featured on LIPA’s
Web site. Additionally, LIPA Chairman, Richard M. Kessel will present each Grand
Winner with their poster mounted in an illuminated frame and a $100 gift
certificate at a special awards ceremony at the new Nassau County Firefighters
Museum and Education Center, adjacent to the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Museum
Row in Garden City. And, as a way to help others learn, all winning posters will
be featured on electric safety book covers that will be printed and distributed
to schools and school children throughout the LIPA service territory.
Throughout the year on LIPA’s Web site www.lipower.org, students and teachers
can discover "The Electric Universe" which is an excellent way for children and
the entire family to learn more about electricity and electric safety.
The section features more than 400 pages of information on electric energy
for students of all ages, as well as tutorials that teachers can use in the
classroom.
New on the section this year are some fun-filled interactive games that can
teach children about how electricity gets to one’s home as well as some “Sliding
Puzzles” that are real brainteasers. Thousands of people visit the “Electric
Universe” each year and it is available 24/7.
Tips for Keeping Children Safe around Electricity
- Teach children to respect electricity.
- Keep balloons and kites away from power lines.
- Never put fingers or objects in electrical outlets.
- Plastic outlet guards are a good idea if you have young children.
- Never climb power poles, transmission towers or fences around electric
substations.
- Teach children to stay clear of all electrical installations and play in
areas away from power lines.
- Watch for power lines when you use a ladder, prune trees, clean a pool,
work on a roof, carry long tools or pipes, dig in the yard, install or
remove TV antennas.
- Worn or damaged electric cords can shock you.
- Check cords in your home and workshop regularly for signs of wear before
using.
- Choose power tools with three pronged plugs and the Underwriters
Laboratory (UL) tag.
- Keep appliances away from water in bathtubs, sinks, puddles and wet
hands.
- Light bulbs and other appliances can get very hot.
- Keep things that could burn away from light bulbs, portable heaters, and
other appliances.
- Never overload electrical outlets.
- Never use water on an electrical fire.
Follow this checklist to insure the safety of your pets!
- Keep electrical cords away from puppies and kittens, they may chew
through them and receive a severe shock.
- Make sure nightlights are completely plugged into a wall outlet. A
partially exposed prong could become a hazard for a curious puppy or kitten.
- Keep halogen torchiere lamps away from play areas for pets and children.
Some of these bulbs can reach temperatures of 1,000 degrees. Knocked over by
a playful pet, they could easily cause a fire.
- Keep appliances near sinks, bathtubs, and pools, a safe distance away
from the water source. Playful pets can knock radios, curling irons and
other items into the water, creating a dangerous situation.
- Try to discourage cats and dogs from curling up for a nap behind warm
computer equipment. Pets need to be kept away from all electrical
connections.
- Bring pets indoors during lightning storms. Wind, rain and lighting can
bring down live power lines, presenting a hazard for pets that are outdoors.
- Always keep aroma-therapy candles away from places where a curious
kitten or puppy could reach.
For more information about electric safety, please visit LIPA’s Web site at
www.lipower.org. |
