Stay Safe for a Fun Summer

Steve Wald and his kids felt sure they would make it home on their bikes before the storm hit. Instead, the wind brought a live power line to the ground in front of them. They turned back, sought shelter at the closest home, and learned that when thunder roars, you must go indoors. 

The Studer boys didn’t expect an electrical flash when they opened an unlocked electrical box in their new back yard. They were lucky the burns left no permanent scars. They and their parents want everyone to understand about pad‑mounted equipment. 

We don’t want anyone to learn about electrical safety the hard way, through a personal experience that ends with life-changing injuries, or even death. 

Working for an electric utility got me thinking about electrical safety several years ago. Before then, like most people, I turned on lights, plugged things in and never thought about electricity unless the power went out. That changed when I learned about the multitude of heartbreaking, life‑changing incidents — most of which were avoidable. 

I’m passionate about sharing electrical safety information and preventing tragedies, and I’m proud to be part of Safe Electricity, a national educational program that works to prevent electrical tragedies and deaths. I am grateful for the hundreds of utilities who are partners in that mission.

We know that when we arm people with knowledge, they will make the right move to stay safe. 

So make sure you understand the dangers of swimming near a marina or docks with electrical service. 

Help children to recognize electrical equipment and stay away. 

Look up when working with tall tools. Check for overhead power lines before placing ladders upright. 

Any downed line is potentially energized and deadly. Know what to do in an auto accident that involves downed power lines. 

Learn what you need to keep yourself and loved ones safe by visiting SafeElectricity.org. Packed with videos, games, articles and more, the website is a virtual library for children and adults, farmers, contractors, business people, homeowners, teachers — just about anyone who has questions or needs to know about electrical safety. Learning and understanding electrical safety steps and situations is a valuable investment of time for all of us.

Electricity is an important asset to our modern life, but we must respect that power or the results can be tragic. More than a thousand people die and thousands more are injured in electrical incidents and fires each year. We can change that reality.

As warmer weather sprouts thoughts of happy outdoor scenes — children running and playing, people enjoying pools and lakes, folks digging into gardening and other projects — most are not thinking about potential safety hazards that could affect the summer fun. We want you to keep them in mind to ensure a safe summer making great memories.

Have a great, safe summer!