S O U T H C E N T R A L 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
Electrical safety starts at home Protecting kids this summer especially after storms or flooding. May is Electrical Safety Month, And one of the most important lessons of all: If you and as summer gets closer, it’s ever see a downed power line, stay far away and treat it a great time to slow down for a like it’s energized because it likely is. Call 911 and keep minute and have some simple but others clear. important conversations with your COLBY WELLS At South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative, we kids. CEO believe safety starts with awareness. These conversations Because here’s the reality … may seem small, but they help protect what matters most. kids are curious. What looks like Because at the end of the day, our responsibility is your something fun to climb, fly near power — and your family’s safety is part of that promise. or explore can actually be dangerous when it comes to electricity. That’s why taking a few minutes to point out things like power lines, poles and transformers — and explaining what they are — can make a big difference. Remind your kids that trees near power lines aren’t safe to climb. Even if the lines don’t look close, they can shift or make contact. The same goes for kites, drones and model airplanes — those should always stay in wide-open spaces, far away from power lines and substations. And if something gets stuck? It’s never worth the risk to try and get it down. Utility poles, towers and those green transformer boxes you see in yards may not look dangerous — but they carry high-voltage electricity and should always be off limits. Substations are another big one — if it’s fenced in, there’s a reason. This time of year also means more time around water. Make sure kids understand that electricity and water don’t mix. Keep anything electrical well away from pools, hot tubs and wet areas, and head indoors as soon as thunder rolls in, before the first lightning strike. For parents, small steps at home can add another layer of protection. Installing GFCIs in areas where water is present can help prevent shocks, and checking cords and outdoor equipment South Central Arkansas Electric lineworkers teach children about electrical safety at school before use is always a good habit — demonstrations throughout the year.
22
MAY 2026
SOUTH CENTRAL ARK ANSAS ELEC TRIC COOPERATIVE