News

Start the new semester with electric safety

Aug 10, 2021

Stay safe this semester… As students and teachers across the area are returning to the classroom, GRDA is passing along some electrical safety tips to keep in mind as the new school year begins.

Power for Progress… a weekly column from the Grand River Dam Authority.

Thousands of students across the region are slowly shifting from summer mode back into a more structured school routine. That means many may also be setting up new workstations at home, in a classroom or perhaps in a dorm room. If that is the case for you or your student, then it’s a great time to revisit electric safety.

The Grand River Dam Authority wants them to stay safe this semester, whether they are headed to Pre-K, junior high or college. With that in mind, here are some safety tips that are ready to go back to school with your student:

• Setting up a computer workstation or maybe organizing your electronics? Do NOT nail or staple extension cords to walls or baseboard. And if any cords are frayed or damaged, replace them.
• If you need extension cords in the dorm room, remember to use only cords which have been approved by an independent testing laboratory. Also, make sure they have been properly rated for their intended use. Finally, don’t run them under rugs or through doorways.
• Let your young students know to NEVER put a paperclip, a pencil or any writing utensils of any kind into an electrical outlet.
• For parents of younger students: Will your kids be walking to and from the bus stop or school? Make sure they know to stay clear of all high voltage electrical components along the route. Also, because Mother Nature or accidents can sometimes cause power lines to go down, make sure your children know to STAY AWAY from these lines. The ground around power lines can still be energized – up to 35 feet away. Also, NEVER touch or step in water near a downed power line.
• Do you have a new driver in the family that will be driving back and forth from school for the first time this semester? Remind them to watch carefully for any utility crews at work along their route to school. And if they would happen to be in an accident involving power poles or power lines, they should ALWAYS assume the electric is live and use extreme caution.
• In such instances, staying in the vehicle and waiting for help is nearly always the safest thing to do. However, if they must exit the vehicle due to car fire, they should jump from the vehicle, with both feet. Never touch the car and the ground at the same time. Then hop away from the vehicle.

Your friends at GRDA want all students to have a safe school year!

GRDA is Oklahoma’s largest public power electric utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees and efficiency.