Safety Tips for Kids

How to Safely Use Electricity

Electricity is essential to our daily lives. Knowing what to do in an emergency or accident could save your or your family’s life. The following will teach you how to safely use electricity, and what to do in case of an emergency.

Stay safe when indoors:

• Never use an electrical device close to a source of water.
• Don’t touch anything that’s electric with wet hands or while standing on a wet floor.
• Remember to never overload an outlet or use the wrong extension cord, which can cause an electrical fire.
• NEVER insert objects or fingers into an outlet or socket.
• NEVER leave appliances or space heaters plugged in and running unattended.
• Use a flashlight if the power goes out. Using lanterns or candles can unintentionally spark fires.
• Make an escape plan with your family so you know where to go in case of a fire or other emergency.

Stay safe when outdoors:

• NEVER play near power lines.  
• NEVER climb trees or objects near power lines.
• Remind your parents to keep ladders, tools and scaffolds at least 10’ away from power lines, if working outside.
• STAY AWAY from any downed power lines! If you see a downed line call 911 immediately and let an adult know.
• Don’t fly a kite or hold any object that could act as a conductor in bad weather. 
• NEVER stay in a swimming pool, a body of water, or near trees during storms.
• Make sure you and your parents are using an approved outdoor cord if powering an object outside and keep that object well away from standing water.

Stay safe when using drones:

• Drones are increasingly being used by companies, government and hobbyists.
• Safety practices are meant to help keep you safe when flying a drone, not an obstacle to flying one.
• Before each flight, check the condition of your drone and make sure everything is working properly. Test the maneuvers and controls you will be using.
• Recruit a spotter – a friend who will watch for hazards that you may have missed when flying the drone.
• Keep drones at least 100-150 feet away from power lines and other electrical equipment. Power lines may interfere with your drone’s radio signals and cause it to crash.
• Do not attempt to retrieve a drone from power lines or an electrical substation, as you may get electrocuted.
• Do not fly your drone above 400 feet.
• Never fly near airports or other drones.
• Never fly over groups of people or public events.
• Remember, drone safety is very important to protect you and your family.

If someone gets shocked:

• Yell for an adult and have them unplug the source or turn off the power from the breaker.
• Call 911 immediately to report the accident. Remember to call 911 if you ever spot a downed power line or any other emergency, as well.
• NEVER touch a person who is shocked! It’s very likely you could get shocked, too.

If there’s an electrical fire:

• Yell for an adult and call 911 immediately. Have the adult put out the fire with a chemical fire extinguisher.
• NEVER throw water on an electrical fire, as this could make the fire worse.
• Follow the evacuation plan you and your family have in place to ensure you all get out safely.