Students Learn About Electrical Safety, Conservation

Monday, 26 November 2012 at 10:26

An education program that travels across the province has been stopping in Woodstock this fall. Electrical Safety and Conservation is a group hoping to prevent tragedies that have claimed the lives of kids that have had accidents involving electricity. They've been brought to the city several times in the last few weeks by Woodstock Hydro to speak to grade school students. The presentation came to Central Public School this morning. Grade 8 student Jenny learned a few tips, "I learned there's a bunch of different scenarios where people have been hurt from just little things that they didn't know about electricity." Presenter Danny Pece on some of the more important messages he delivers to kids. "One of the most important things is to realize what a ground pin does (on a plug) and how important it is, it can save your life. Another important device in the house is the GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) a lot of parents don't realize they should be tested once a month. Just like how we test smoke detectors." Those are the red and black switches on an electrical outlet that will cut the power if it detects you have become part of the circuit of electricity. Pece talked about a few real life examples of children that have been burned or killed when coming into contact with live electricity, whether by chewing on an electrical cord, or trying to retrieve a ball from a hydro substation. "These accidents to happen to real life people. I know a lot of the times the kids are the biggest advocates of this program and they take home what they can remember to share with their parents." The presentation also has a fun side, higlighted by Pece running 120 volts through a dill pickle that lights up as the electricity runs through it. Aside from avoiding electrocution, Pece also passes along messages of energy conservation. That includes using CFL light bulbs, and as Grade 6 student Mac explains, not leaving device charges plugged into the wall. "Even when they're not plugged into your phone, they still take electricity. So it kind of wastes money and electricity."