LIPA Observes Electric Safety Month with a Series of Special Educational Events For Children and Adults

Uniondale, NY - May 4, 2007 - Nationally, every year hundreds of people are killed and more than 10,000 people are injured from electricity related incidents in the home and on the job, according to industry statistics. Most of these deaths and injuries could be prevented with an increased awareness of electric safety.

In its ongoing effort to heighten public awareness of electric safety, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is conducting its annual series of safety demonstrations and public events in May to underscore the importance of National Electric Safety Month.

“Annually, there are tragic reminders nation-wide that it is essential to begin teaching children early on about the importance of electric safety,” said LIPA’s CEO and President Richard M. Kessel. “LIPA recognizes that people of all ages must be mindful of the importance of electric safety in their homes, schools, workplaces and in the outdoor
environment.”

Saturday May 12th and May 19th, at 11:00AM LIPA and the Long Island Children’s Museum Teach Electric Safety.

Every family benefits from it-from lighting our homes to powering our computers, electricity is a central part of our lives. Parents and kids are invited to meet veteran electrical worker Rookie Gilmartin, discover how electricity arrives in your home and learn safe electricity practices.  This is a fun and important refresher for parents and a
great introduction to the safe uses of electricity for kids. Ages: 5 and up. Free with museum admission.

Tuesday May 15, 2007, LIPA Electric Contact Demonstration Event.

LIPA recognizes the importance of sending a strong message to children and adults about the hazards of electric line contact. To underscore this message, a simulated contact demonstration will take place at 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at the Lineman’s Academy in Hicksville. Students from local area schools will be on hand to view the demonstration. This dramatic demonstration will show what happens when various items such as mylar balloons, tree limbs and other objects come in contact with high voltage lines. The results are very impressive.

Wednesday May 16, 2007, The Lineman’s Academy Safety Demonstration.

LIPA and the I.B.E.W. Local 1049 will conduct an Electric Safety Day at the union’s Long Island headquarters in Hauppauge from 10:30AM to 3:30PM.  Local area grade school students will learn what it is like to work on electric lines, ride in a bucket truck and use equipment just like the men and women who maintain LIPA’s electric transmission and distribution system. LIPA and I.B.E.W. Local 1049 have also arranged for a variety of interactive exhibits to teach students about electric safety.  In addition to various table displays depicting the do’s and don’ts of electric safety, children will be given an opportunity to use a lineman’s “hot stick” to place rubber safety sleeving on a non-electrified line and go into the bucket of a lineman’s bucket truck for a “lift” up into the air. (Note: No live electric lines are used during these demonstrations.)

Wednesday May 23, 2007, Annual Electric Safety Poster Contest Awards Ceremony

Young people learn by doing. To make electric safety fun, LIPA invited all third, fourth and fifth grade students in the LIPA service territory to participate in LIPA’s ninth Annual Electric Safety Poster Contest. Twelve Grand Winners will be selected, and their winning posters will be featured on LIPA’s Web site. Additionally, LIPA CEO and President, Richard M. Kessel will present each Grand Winner with their poster mounted in an illuminated frame and a $100 gift card at a special awards ceremony at the LIPA Corporate Office in Uniondale, NY. And, as a way to help others learn, all winning posters will be featured on electric safety book covers that will be printed and  distributed to schools and school children throughout the LIPA service territory.

Throughout the year on LIPA’s Web site www.lipower.org, students and teachers can discover “The Electric Universe” which is an excellent way for children and the entire family to learn more about electricity and electric safety.

The section features more than 400 pages of information on electric energy for students of all ages, as well as tutorials that teachers can use in the classroom.

New on the section this year are some fun-filled interactive games that can teach children about how electricity gets to one’s home as well as some “Sliding Puzzles” that are real brainteasers. Thousands of people visit the “Electric Universe” each year and it is available 24/7.

Tips for Keeping Children Safe around Electricity
* Teach children to respect electricity.
* Keep balloons and kites away from power lines.
* Never put fingers or objects in electrical outlets.
* Plastic outlet guards are a good idea if you have young children.
* Never climb power poles, transmission towers or fences around electric substations.
* Teach children to stay clear of all electrical installations and play in areas away from power lines.
* Watch for power lines when you use a ladder, prune trees, clean a pool, work on a roof, carry long tools or pipes, dig in the yard, install or remove TV antennas.
* Worn or damaged electric cords can shock you.
* Check cords in your home and workshop regularly for signs of wear before using.
* Choose power tools with three pronged plugs and the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) tag.
* Keep appliances away from water in bathtubs, sinks, puddles and wet hands.
* Light bulbs and other appliances can get very hot.
* Keep things that could burn away from light bulbs, portable heaters,
and other appliances.
* Never overload electrical outlets.
* Never use water on an electrical fire.

Follow this checklist to insure the safety of your pets!
* Keep electrical cords away from puppies and kittens, they may chew through them and receive a severe shock.
* Make sure nightlights are completely plugged into a wall outlet. A partially exposed prong could become a hazard for a curious puppy or kitten.
* Keep halogen torchiere lamps away from play areas for pets and children. Some of these bulbs can reach temperatures of 1,000 degrees. Knocked over by a playful pet, they could easily cause a fire.
* Keep appliances near sinks, bathtubs, and pools, a safe distance away from the water source. Playful pets can knock radios, curling irons and other items into the water, creating a dangerous situation.
* Try to discourage cats and dogs from curling up for a nap behind warm computer equipment. Pets need to be kept away from all electrical connections.
* Bring pets indoors during lightning storms. Wind, rain and lighting can bring down live power lines, presenting a hazard for pets that are outdoors.
* Always keep aroma-therapy candles away from places where a curious kitten or puppy could reach.

For more information about electric safety, please visit LIPA’s Web site at www.lipower.org.

LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric utility, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens.  LIPA is the 3rd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of customers served and the 6th largest in terms of electricity delivered. In 2006, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State in all three major reliability categories. LIPA does not provide natural gas service or own any on-island generating assets. More information about LIPA can be found online at: www.lipower.org.

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