SUMMER holidays are just around the corner, so it’s time to plan exciting memories for youngsters – but an electricity company is warning don’t forget to keep them safe!
UK Power Networks, the country’s biggest electricity distributor serving 20 million people, is urging parents, grandparents and guardians to remember safety messages around electrical equipment.
It’s great to play outdoors but the electrical distributor is reminding you to make sure children don’t play near electricity substations, and if a ball, model aircraft, drone or a pet, goes into the substation, never try and get it back! Call 105 and an engineer will come and safely retrieve it.
Remember to Look Out Look Up for overhead powerlines before climbing trees, flying drones, model aeroplanes or kites, because contact with overhead powerlines can kill.
The same safety message applies to carrying long objects such as fishing rods, tent poles or when erecting marquees. Make sure they stay horizontal with no danger of catching an overhead wire. Remember it’s also dangerous to attach things to pylons or poles.
If you are planning summer gardening projects or erecting fences do you know where the underground cables are in your garden? Take extra care when digging by checking first where the electricity cables are using a free online search *LinesearchbeforeUdig
Ros Forbes, a safety advisor at UK Power Networks, said: “With summer in full swing, people will be spending more time in their gardens, going on holiday and enjoying recreational activities. We are reminding everyone to be aware of overhead power lines and underground cables. Take time to ‘Look Up’ and to ‘Think before you dig’. Simple checks can ensure you stay safe and enjoy your summer activities. Please share them with your family and friends.”
There’s also lots to learn about electricity through games on our new Power Up site for 7-14s and their guardians. Already thousands of children and adults have logged on to PowerUp your education | UK Power Networks for a host of new activities to help fill up the long summer holidays!
