N O R T H A R K A N S A S E L E C T R I C C O O P E R AT I V E
Power Play Simple safety lessons for a safer summer Children don’t always know the outlets and in rooms where water is present. GFCIs shut dangers of electricity and electrical off power instantly if a problem is detected and are equipment. With May recognized as affordable and widely available. Electrical Safety Month, it’s an ideal Use caution with outdoor electrical appliances, even time to reinforce simple lessons that when plugged into GFCI outlets. Never use damaged MEL COLEMAN can help kids stay safe all summer extension cords and always keep the ground prong intact. CEO long. Flooded areas are especially dangerous and may hide Young imaginations often turn energized equipment or downed power lines. the unfamiliar into something Always assume a downed power line is energized. Stay fun or inviting, which can make electrical equipment far away and teach children to report fallen or hanging especially dangerous. Take time to point out overhead wires to an adult immediately. If you encounter a downed power lines, utility poles and other electrical equipment, line, call 911 and keep others clear. and explain what they are and why they should be At North Arkansas Electric, safety is our top priority, avoided. and we’re committed to helping your family stay safe Teach children these important rules: year-round. • Never climb trees near power lines. Even if lines aren’t touching the branches, they can shift and make contact when weight is added. • Fly kites, drones and model airplanes in good weather and only in wide-open spaces, such as parks or large fields. Keep them far from overhead power lines and substations. If a kite or toy becomes tangled near power lines, never try to retrieve it. Electricity can travel through strings or wires. • Never climb a utility pole or tower. These structures carry high voltage electricity that can be deadly. • Stay away from pad-mounted electrical equipment. These green metal boxes, often found on concrete pads, contain transformers and should never be played on or around. • Never enter an electric substation. High voltage equipment inside can cause severe shock, even without direct contact. • Seek shelter immediately if thunder is heard or lightning is seen while playing outdoors. • Never touch electrical appliances while in a pool or hot tub and keep all electrical devices at least 10 feet away from water. Swimming during a storm is never safe. Protect your family by installing ground Teach children to stay away from big green metal boxes known as pad-mounted fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) on outdoor transformers that carry high-voltage electrical equipment.
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MAY 2026
NORTH ARK ANSAS ELEC TRIC COOPERATIVE