Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative
Hats Off
June Job Anniversaries Les Rector................. 42 years Clint Walker.............. 21 years
Call 811 Before Digging
Summer Electrical Safety Tips for Kids 1. Instruct children to stay away from all utility lines, especially playing with a fallen line.
2. NEVER play or hang around electric utility boxes or substations. If a toy gets stuck inside any substations, transmission equipment, or electrical equipment, forbid them from entering to retrieve the toy.
3. DO NOT climb trees that are near power lines, even if the branches are touching. If the branches touch, you could end up electrocuted.
4. Fly kites and toy planes far away from power lines, and leave anything if it lands on a wire.
5. Stay at least 40 feet away from all power lines and call 911 immediately. The ground can be energized up to 35 feet away or through any water that is in contact with a downed line.
6. Summer showers can bring more than tempting puddles for kids to splash in, they can also leave electric hazards behind. Flooded areas are never safe spots to wade or play in, and may be in contact with energized electrical equipment or fallen power lines.
7. Make sure children know how to read and recognize signs that read “high voltage,” “danger,” “keep out,” and “caution.”
8. Teach children they should alert the authorities to a downed power line or other potentially “live” electrical equipment and stay far away (at least 40 feet away).
If you have a project involving any type of digging, it’s very important to make sure to locate and avoid any possible utility lines buried underground. Possible buried lines include electric, gas, phone, internet, and water. Whether you’re taking on building a new fence, deck, or tilling the soil to plant a garden, you should always call 811 before digging. Dialing 811 is a free call that can be made from anywhere in the country. You can also visit nm811.org to submit an online request. Give the operator your location, and within a few days, they will arrange for “locators” from your local utility service providers to mark any buried lines with brightly colored paint or flags. Failing to contact 811 and proceeding to dig in an unmarked area could result in disastrous, very expensive, and sometimes fatal consequences. In 2016, it was estimated that underground lines were damaged every six minutes caused by people that chose not to call and have the lines located and marked before digging. Please remember to call 811 every time you dig even if you’ve had lines marked in the past. A few days wait is well worth the prevention of damage to buried utility lines. The neighborhood will thank you as well.
enchantment.coop • June 2020 17
