Apr 29, 2021 | Safety and Security
Who says electricity — and learning about it — can’t be fun?
More than 5,000 children are discovering just how fun it can be, thanks to an entertaining and educational theater program we’re offering to schools across Pennsylvania.
The show, typically performed in school auditoriums and gymnasiums by actors, is now hosted via livestream, due to the pandemic, to ensure the safety of children and actors.
The latest performance — “Captain Wattage” — was pre-recorded and is being presented to 33 schools from April 27 and May 19.
“Captain Wattage” tells a superhero-themed story about the uses of electricity and how to stay safe around it, as well as how it is created. A livestream host introduces and recaps the information, and students and teachers can submit questions and responses through a live Q&A feature.
These events are supplemented by student playbooks, posters and a full e-learning package including games, activities, e-books, and hands-on lessons for students to enjoy even after the program concludes.
Over 105,000 children have seen electrical safety theater performances since the start of our program.
Feb 16, 2021 | Safety and Security
In-person gatherings may be limited again this year, but that doesn’t mean we’re skipping celebrations altogether. Despite the pandemic, birthdays, graduations, weddings and holidays are still taking place – and balloons are still a preferred way to mark the occasions.
Balloons – particularly balloons made of mylar – are fun and festive, but did you know that they could also pose a safety risk around electrical wires?
Mylar balloons have a metallic coating that conducts electricity. If a mylar balloon drifts off and touches an overhead power line, it can lead to downed wires, fires or other injuries; and, it could cause power outages.
Help us keep our communities safe – and keep the lights on – by making sure you hold on tight to those mylar balloons. Tie them to a secure object, and if it’s a windy day, bring them inside just to be safe.
Source: Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
Jan 27, 2021 | Safety and Security
Spending more time indoors this winter?
We have 5 tips to keep you and your family safe around electricity this season:
- Space heaters can supplement your heat source, but never plug one into an extension cord. Make sure you plug your heater directly into an outlet to avoid fires.
- Install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home, especially outside of bedrooms.
- Inspect your power strips and extension cords regularly, and be sure to replace any fraying or damaged cords, which can cause fires.
- If you need to use a generator, place it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated outdoor location.
- With remote work and virtual schooling, you probably have lots of electronics plugged in around the house. Unplug items, such as cell phone and laptop chargers, when you’re not using them to avoid overloading your outlets.
And while we’re on the topic of winter, remember not to bury our pad-mounted transformers when shoveling snow or using a snow blower. And please don’t let young children play on or around them. It’s important to keep the transformers visible and easily accessible for our crews.
For more safety tips in and around your home, visit pplelectric.com.
Aug 3, 2020 | Safety and Security
Most of us don’t like to think that we could be affected by something like a house fire or a flood, but the numbers say otherwise. According to the Department of Homeland Security, floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S.
Electricity and water can be a dangerous combination.
Here are a few tips to keep yourself and your family safe when flood waters rise.
- Never use electric appliances or touch electric wires, switches or fuses when you’re wet or standing in water.
- Stay clear of electrical equipment in rooms with flooding.
- If you have to stand in water to turn off power at the breaker box, don’t do it! Call us at 1-800-342-5775 and we’ll shut off power at the meter.
- Keep electric tools and equipment at least 10 feet away from wet surfaces.
- Don’t use electric yard tools if it’s raining or the ground is wet.
For more resources about flood safety visit ready.gov/floods or check out these tips from ESFI.
Jul 24, 2020 | Safety and Security
Installing a fence or mailbox post? Building an addition? Starting a big landscaping project?
There’s one thing you always need to do before you or your contractor start digging.
Call 8-1-1 for the Pennsylvania One Call System to help prevent contact with underground powerlines or other utilities.
The call ensures that a crew comes out to mark all the areas with spray paint, flags, or other identifiers where underground utilities exist, whether they be power lines, water lines, sewer lines or gas lines.
State law requires an 811 call before digging with any power equipment in Pennsylvania. That call must be placed three business days prior to a dig.
We recommend that an 811 call be placed for any digging activity, whether it is an old-fashioned shovel or powered machinery, to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Each year, we receive reports of about 60 to 75 digging incidents in which the person doing the digging failed to call 811. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission says that there are about 6,000 hits each year on underground utilities in the state overall.
If there’s construction going on in your neighborhood involving digging and you’re unsure whether an 811 call was placed, it never hurts to make that call just to be safe.
When calling 811, be prepared to share the following information:
- The county and municipality in which the planned dig is located.
- The street name and address.
- The nearest intersecting/cross street to the address.
- Details of the dig site, including the area of the property where excavation will occur and what kind of work is being done.
- When the project is scheduled to take place.
- The name of the company doing the work (if applicable).
For more information on safe digging, visit pa1call.org.
