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Electricity can shock, burn or kill you! You never know when contact with electricity will be fatal, but you can count on it hurting. It’s not only power lines that can kill or injure you if you contact them, you can also be killed by shock from an appliance or power cord in your home if you don’t know how to take precautions!
Why Electricity Is Dangerous You’ve probably been shocked before – by static electricity, like when you walk across carpet and touch a doorknob. But a real electric shock is a lot more painful than that, and a lot more dangerous. Here's what can happen: *Muscles tighten up, making it almost impossible to pull away from the circuit. *Lungs constrict, making it hard to breathe. *Heartbeat is interrupted and blood vessels tighten. *Burns occur where the electricity enters and leaves the body. Chancellor Elementary
Humans are good conductors Did you know that the human body is a good conductor of electricity? That means that electricity flows easily through our bodies. Why? Because electricity moves quickly through water – and the human body is 70 percent water! Another fact you need to remember is that electricity always tries to find the easiest path to the ground. This picture shows what could happen if someone accidentally knocks a metal ladder against an unprotected power line: The ladder comes into contact with the energized power line. The electricity travels through the metal ladder to the man’s hands. The electricity quickly moves through the ladder and the man’s body, trying to find the easiest path to the ground. Chancellor Elementary
Top 10 electrical safety tips for kids: 1. DON'T plug a bunch of stuff into one outlet or extension cord. It could damage the electrical system in your house or even cause a fire. Chancellor Elementary
Top 10 electrical safety tips for kids: 2. DO ask grown-ups to put safety caps on all unused electrical outlets. Covering outlets will also help save energy by stopping cold drafts. Chancellor Elementary
Top 10 electrical safety tips for kids: 3. DON’T yank an electrical cord from the wall. Pulling on a cord can damage the appliance, the plug or the outlet. Chancellor Elementary
Top 10 electrical safety tips for kids: 4. DO make sure all electric cords are tucked away, neat and tidy. Pets might chew on electrical cords, and people might trip and fall. Chancellor Elementary
Top 10 electrical safety tips for kids: 5. DO ask a grown-up for help when you need to use something that uses electricity. Chancellor Elementary
Top 10 electrical safety tips for kids: 6. DO look up and look out for power lines before you climb a tree. The electricity can go right through the tree branch - and right through you! Chancellor Elementary
Top 10 electrical safety tips for kids: 7. DON'T ever climb the fence around an electrical substation. If a ball or pet gets inside the fence, ask a grown-up to call the electric company - they'll come and get it out for you. Chancellor Elementary
Top 10 electrical safety tips for kids: 8. DO remind your mom or dad to watch out for power lines when they're using a ladder, chainsaw or other outdoor equipment. Chancellor Elementary
Electrical Safety Top 10 electrical safety tips for kids: 9. DO keep electrical stuff far away from water. Most electrical accidents around the house happen when people use electricity near water. Chancellor Elementary
Top 10 electrical safety tips for kids: 10. DON’T fly a kite near power lines. The kite and the string may conduct electricity – sending it right through you to the ground. Chancellor Elementary
Questions and Answers About Electric Safety Why shouldn’t we play near substations? If there’s a substation in your neighborhood, it’s important to steer clear. There’s a lot of high-voltage electricity inside – and you don't even have to touch anything inside to get hurt. What should I do if a ball or toy gets inside a substation? If you accidentally throw a ball or toy over a substation fence, never ever try to climb the fence to get it yourself. Ask a grown-up to call the electric company, and we'll be happy to get it for you. Chancellor Elementary
Questions and Answers About Electric Safety How do I know if electrical equipment is dangerous? To play it safe, make sure you know what the warning signs mean. "DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE" means there's dangerous electricity inside. You might see a sign with a character called Mr. Ouch - when you see Mr. Ouch, it means stay away. Why don’t birds get shocked when they sit on powerlines? Birds don't get electrocuted when they land on a power line because they are only touching one of the wires. If they were to touch two (or more) of the wires at the same time they WOULD get electrocuted. Chancellor Elementary
Safety Quiz Chancellor Elementary
Safety Quiz Chancellor Elementary
Remember… Accidents happen quickly, you might think that if you get shocked, you can pull away quickly and not get hurt. But electricity travels at the speed of light, so a person has almost no chance of pulling away. And if the electricity is strong enough, it can cause the victim’s muscles to tighten up so much he or she can’t let go. Anyone who touches someone who is being electrocuted can become part of the circuit as well. That’s why you should never grab on to anyone who’s been shocked. Courtesy of: www.powerhousekids.com PowerPoint created by: Chancellor Elementary