May Updates from LPEA Wire: 5 Top Tips to Stay Safe Around Electricity

Hi, I’m Hillary Knox, VP of Member Experience at LaPlata Electric Association. And this is your LPEA wire for me. Electricity powers our lives but it is a force that must be respected. On average, one person in the United States dies every day from electricity related injuries. May is National Electric Safety month, and to help you stay safe around electricity. Here is Jerry Sutherlin. LPEA’s VP of Operations, with five electric safety tips.

Thanks, Hillary. Here are my five top important safety tips to remember to keep you and your family safe. Number one. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a shovel or an excavator. Always remember to call 811 to have all underground utilities located prior to digging. Remember, 50% of our power lines are buried underground. And, if you ever happen to run into any of our warning tape, stop digging immediately and give us a call. The other 50% you guessed it, above ground, or as we call it overhead such as this line. When using long tools, such as pruners or ladders in transport, make sure you carry them horizontally. And then once in use make sure you stay clear of any overhead power lines. If you’re using tall equipment or driving tall equipment always keep looking up to make sure you have the proper clearance. Number three, don’t ever climb or trim trees near power lines. It’s a great thing to remind kids of. If you ever think that a tree might be a hazard please give us a call and we’ll send out our professional tree crews to have a look. Number four, vehicle accidents. If you’re ever in an accident that involves a power pole, power lines or any piece of electrical equipment, stay in the vehicle. Call 911 from inside the car wait for help to arrive. If you absolutely must exit the vehicle this is the proper way to do it. Open the door, place both feet in a position where you can jump to the ground and land with both feet at the same time. Don’t touch the car. It’s possible that it’s energized which could put you in serious injury or possibly death. Now keep your feet as close together as possible and keep them in constant contact with the ground and shuffle until you’re at least 30 feet away from the car. At this point, make sure the scene stays safe. Make sure by standers do not try to approach the vehicle to help and last but not least, stay educated. Knowledge is power and could potentially save your life. Be sure to check out our website for more safety tips and more information on these five.

Thanks Jerry. And that’s it, for this May Edition of LPEA wire. See you next month with more from LPEA.

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