It’s back to school season.

Settling into a new school year routine takes time, and after the quiet summer months, we can all use a safety refresher to help keep our kiddos and the rest of the family safe around electricity.

Electrical safety tips for in your home:

• Make sure your kitchen and bathrooms have GFCI-protected outlets to keep you safe from electrical shocks.
• Check that you have working smoke alarms and never disable a smoke alarm when cooking.
• Avoid overloading outlets and regularly inspect electrical cords and extension cords for damage.
• Never insert anything other than an electrical plug into an electrical outlet.
• Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use to save energy and minimize the risk of shock and fire. Never leave cooking or appliances unattended.

Safety tips for outside your home:

• Don’t play on or around utility poles or power lines.
• Keep away from green box transformers or other electrical equipment.
• Stay on the sidewalk when possible or walk facing traffic.
• Always use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street.
• Watch out for students and pedestrians crossing the street.
• Make sure to obey school zone speed limits.
• Stay at least 10 feet away from any school bus that’s stopped with its sign extended and lights flashing.

We hope all the students returning to the classroom—and their families—have a safe and enjoyable school year!