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Elizabethtown city employees view an electrical safety demonstration at Nolin RECC as part of their annual training. In March, the co-op reached nearly 200 firefighters, city workers, and others who work in and around high-voltage lines. Electrical safety demonstrations are offered to emergency management personnel, schools, church groups, and civic organizations. Interested persons should call Alfred Akridge at (270)765-6153..

Make the smart choice: follow safety rules

Because May is National Electrical Safety Month, Nolin RECC urges you to do all you can to prevent electrical accidents. It’s more common than you might imagine. Three people die each day in electrically related fires and lectrocutions.
Many others are injured.

Consider the case of Eddie Black, who is featured in a safety ad on the inside back cover of this issue of Kentucky Living. It’s been more than a quarter century since Eddie nearly lost his life while working as a lineman. As he attempted to re-conductor two new power lines, an older, sagging line contacted two new lines, sending 7,200 volts of electricity surging through his body. As a result, Eddie lost both of his hands.

Since then, Eddie has been on a mission to help others realize the importance of being safe with electricity. “Safety isa matter of choice,” Eddie said. “If you choose to not follow the rules, chances are those decisions will catch up with you.”

One of the biggest dangers is the threat of electrocution from power lines. So if you’re working outside with ladders, take extra care to avoid contact with lines.

If you’re driving a vehicle that contacts downed power lines, stay inside and call for help. Warn bystanders to stay away and wait until the electric utility arrives to make sure power to the line is cut off. If you have to get out, jump out of the vehicle with both feet together and bunny-hop away. This decreases the possibility of electrocution.

Always assume that a downed line is electrified and err on the side of caution. If your children play with kites, make sure they fly them in an open field away from overhead lines. If a kite or a balloon becomes tangled in a power line, tell your kids never to climb poles or trees to get them down; call your co-op to help.

If you work with farm equipment, maintain a 10-foot distance between the equipment and
all power lines. And make sure you are never working outside with power tools when weather conditions are damp or wet.

On page 3A you will read about Allen Hicks, a local farmer who lost both his hands in a
farming accident involving a hay baler. Allen’s tragic misfortune and incredible recovery will
inspire you to stop and think before you make impulsive decisions.

Electrical safety rules exist for a reason. Be smart, make the right choice. And stay safe.