Safety For Kids

Kids love to climb trees. Teach them to watch out for trees or shrubs that have power lines passing near them. These lines are generally uninsulated and they can kill. Trees are excellent conductors of electricity, particularly when wet. Teach your children to keep toy airplanes and kites away from trees and power lines. Never try to retrieve a kite or plane by poking a stick into a power line.

Never climb on transformers or up electric poles. Instruct your children to stay away from utility substation fences. If you see a substation fence or transformer cabinet that has been vandalized, call 425-1803 immediately. Teach children to look for DANGER signs displayed on all high voltage equipment. If a child (or an adult) sees a downed or damaged power line, he/she must not go near it!  Call 911 or 425-1803.

CORED has a Louie the Lightning Bug program for helping children learn how to play safe around electricity.

Play It Safe Around Electricity 

• Never climb utility poles or play on fences around substations.
• Keep electrical cords and wires away from heat and water.
• If you are touching water, never touch electrical devices such as light switches, hair dryers, curling irons, mixers, or toasters.
• Don’t pull on electric cords to unplug them.
• Keep kites away from power lines, and never fly metallic balloons outside.
• Don’t put your fingers in a light bulb socket.
• If you see a fallen electrical wire, stay away!
• Disconnect appliances before cleaning them.
• Tell someone if you see a frayed cord.
• Don’t swim during an electrical storm.
• Don’t touch overhead wires when you’re carrying a ladder, pool skimmer, or any other long object.
• Don’t climb a tree that has power lines running through or near it.
• Don’t use an electrical appliance when you’re wet.
• Tell your parents about damaged plugs and cords on outdoor and indoor appliances.
• Don’t touch anyone or anything that is touching a downed wire.