Indoor Safety

There are four (4) important points to prevent indoor electrical accidents.

1. Never use an electrical appliance on a wet surface, and never use one when your feet are wet, or in a bath or shower.
2. Never overload a circuit with too many appliances. Allow only one appliance per plug or outlet.
3. Frayed electric wires and cords are dangerous and should be replaced or repaired immediately.
4. Remember not to touch a faulty appliance, damaged plug, or bare wire and never insert a metal object into an appliance or outlet, or touch them with wet hands.

Outdoor Safety

To prevent outdoor electrical accidents, watch out for and stay away from overhead wires when you're around trees, or if using a ladder, moving irrigation pipes, TV antennas, or using pool skimmers or any other long object that could come in contact with an overhead line. Never fly kites, model airplanes or climb or trim a tree that is anywhere near an overhead line. If you're planting trees, plant them away from power lines, or plant only low growing trees underneath power lines. Never touch a downed power line, and if you should see someone who is being electrocuted, don't touch the person without first cutting off the power source. Never climb power poles or transmission towers.

Stay away from green metal boxes. These boxes replace overhead lines and are found on backyard property lines or behind buildings. Also, make sure tools and appliances are approved for outdoor use. They are made with heavier wiring and special insulation and three way ground plugs. You should always keep any electrical device or appliance away from water. Always stay in your car if a fallen power line hits it, and wait for help to arrive. If the car catches fire, jump clear of the car without touching the metal and the ground at the same time. Stay away from water, trees and power lines during an electrical storm. Follow these tips to keep yourself safe.

Call Before You Dig

Home improvements are important, however so is staying alive. So if you're building a fence, installing a sprinkler system, or doing any other kinds of digging, grading or excavating around your home or yard, be sure to locate the cable before you dig. You don't know what electric, gas, telephone, fiber optics, or water lines may be just below the surface.

Safety Videos & Demonstrations

Electric Safety is an important issue to Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. We have available for presentation electric safety programs that will capture the interest of all ages. Programs available include:

• Hey, What About that Electricity?

What is electricity? Where does it come from? How does it get to your home or business?
Length: 17 minutes
Ages: 1st through 5th grade

• Louie, the Lightning Bug

Louie explains the important role of electricity and electric safety.
Length: 11 minutes
Ages: K through 3rd grade

• Electrojuice

A high-tech electric safety video that captures the interest of teenagers and adults.
Length: 25 minutes
Ages: 6th grade through adult

• Power Safety Demonstrations

Working with 5,000 volts of electricity, linemen demonstrate safety procedures and the use of utility safety equipment. Various examples of power incidents are shown, such as tree limbs, kite strings, TV antennas falling into power lines, and other safety related situations.