Electrical dangers are everywhere, even on the school bus or at the bus stop. And Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC) wants to remind students and parents that something that seems like a minor risk in the moment could end up being deadly.
“Children are very impressionable from a young age, so it’s our duty as parents, grandparents, or guardians to inform them of the dangers around them,” EREC Director of Engineering, Lanie Sells, says.
Those dangers could be at the bus stop or on their way to school. Inform your children not to play near or around power lines or poles while waiting for the bus. They could climb up a nearby tree or electrical pole and accidentally grab a power line. This could be a fatal mistake, so make sure your children know the dangers.
Tell your children to stay away from padmount transformers—the big green boxes on the ground—and other electrical equipment. Children might view these green boxes as playground equipment. So, warn your children not to put their fingers, sticks, or other objects through cracks in a transformer, and explain to them why they should never touch or go near areas where they see hazard stickers.
Discuss as a family the different scenarios your children may find themselves in. If their school bus were ever in an accident involving power lines, they should assume the lines are still energized. They should remain in the bus as their bus driver calls 911. If your children must exit the vehicle, advise them to always listen to instructions from first responders or the bus driver.
In an emergency, students on the bus may need to jump out of the vehicle with both feet together, avoiding contact with the bus and the ground at the same time. Then, they should shuffle away with small steps, being sure to always keep both feet together and on the ground until at least 40 feet away. This will reduce the risk of electrical shock or electrocution.