EWEB Pilots New Line Safety Program for 4th graders.
In the United States, there are approximately 1,000 deaths per year as a result of electrical injuries according to the National Library of Medicine. There are at least 30,000 non-fatal electric shock incidents per year, approximately 5% of burn unit admissions occur as a result of electrical injuries and approximately 20% of all electrical injuries occur in children.
That’s why at EWEB safety is our number one priority – for staff and the community. This year, EWEB is ramping up power line safety for children, specifically 4th graders.
“Educating 4th graders on electrical safety is critical, because it introduces them to the hazards of electricity at a young age, providing lifelong respect and caution,” said EWEB’s Safety Program Manager Lance Hughes.
In May, EWEB’s Safety department piloted a new program called PowerTown, a live-voltage demonstration table at the Fairfield Elementary School. Approximately 60 4th graders learned about power line safety, including:
- What to do if you see a downed power line: STOP. OBSERVE. SURVIVE. And call 911.
- How far to stay away from a downed power line: 50 feet away or the length of a school bus.
- The difference between conductive and insulative materials.
- If you must exit a vehicle with a power line on it, how to do so safely.
- What to do in unexpected scenarios like flying a kite near a power line, playing on a pad mount transformer, and digging near underground lines.
This new program is made possible through EWEB’s Education Grant Program.
The program provides funding to local school districts for education around water, energy, climate and safety topics. Each participating school district has an education grant coordinator who helps bring memorable learning experiences to local youth. Lessons align with existing curricula to enhance the student experience with hands-on, tactile projects and presentations that would be otherwise unattainable for budget-constrained school districts.
In the fall, EWEB will offer demonstrations to all 4th grade classrooms in our service territory in partnership with grant coordinators at the Bethel, Eugene 4J, Springfield and McKenzie School Districts.
Make it fun for everyone!
EWEB has created a new Power Line Safety Brain Boosting Activity Book and it’s available for everyone to learn about power line safety.
Download it here and share it with your family at home!
