National Electric Safety Month: A few final electrical safety tips

May is National Electrical Safety Month and the Grand River Dam Authority is proud to join with the Electrical Safety Foundation International (esfi.org) in promoting electrical safety at home and in the workplace. Electricity is something we take for granted, but using it safely is very important. By following a few simple rules, the number of injuries, fatalities, and fires caused by electrical accidents each year can be reduced. As we wrap up this series of May columns focused on electrical safety, we want to use this space to share a few final tips from esfi.org. Consider sharing these with everyone in your family, including your children:

ESFI Electrical Safety Tips:

• Keep liquids, including drinks, away from electrical items such as TVs, video-game systems, and computers. They could spill and cause dangerous shocks or fires.
• Never play with electrical cords, light sockets, or electrical outlets.
• Do not overload outlets with too many plugs.
• Never yank on the cord to unplug an appliance. Hold on to the plug itself.
• If you see a broken electrical cord in your house, tell an adult. The adult should replace the cord: Never try to repair it.
• Keep space heaters three feet away from anything that can burn.
• Do not play or fly kites near power lines. If your kite gets caught in a power line, let go of the kite.
• Stay away from big metal electrical boxes in your neighborhood. They are not safe to play around or sit on. 
• When there is lightning, stay away from trees and get inside.

Your friends at GRDA want you to stay safe.

GRDA is Oklahoma’s largest public power electric utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees, and efficiency.                                                                       

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