It’s just about time for school to get underway again. Yes, time to get back to learning about math, English, science, electrical safety …

Wait, what was that last one?

Don’t worry, you don’t need to add any textbooks to an already overstuffed backpack. But learning to stay safe around electricity can be as important as any subject on the report card. According to a National Institutes of Health study, children make up about 20% of all electrical injuries, so reviewing the basics with your family now can save a lot of distress later.

So what do you need to know? Here’s a few essentials to start with:

• Outlets are for plugs … and nothing else. Don’t ever stick a pen, a paperclip or any other random object into a power outlet, even if you think it’s not working. Every year, about 2,400 children – nearly seven kids per day –get severely shocked or burned by sticking something into an outlet.
• Before plugging or unplugging anything, dry your hands. It shouldn’t be surprising that water and electricity don’t go together. But we all wash our hands many times during the day (or should) and it’s easy to forget that they’re still damp before reaching for a plug. Dry carefully and stay safe.
• Pull the plug, not the cord. This is one even adults forget … often enough that we’ve done an entire blog on how to pull a plug. Short version: When you yank the cord, you damage it over time, and anything with a frayed cord or exposed wire can be a fire hazard. So reach for the head of the plug, not the tail.
• Avoid electric boxes. Those green boxes on the way to school (or colorfully painted boxes, if they’re a Shock Art project) can look inviting, but they’re dangerous for anyone to be around except a utility worker with proper gear. Don’t play around them, don’t sit on them, and REALLY don’t try to open them up.
• Avoid power lines, up or down. If a power line has been knocked down by a storm or accident, it can energize the ground for 35 feet around with at least 7,200 volts, so stay clear and have an adult call us at 303-651-8386 to fix it. But intact power lines are nothing to mess with either. If something gets stuck on the line, like a drone or a kite, call us to get it down … don’t try to get it down yourself.

OK, class dismissed. Stay safe and have a great school year.

In fact, we hope it’s downright energetic.