Keeping Your Children Safe

Electrical safety is a top priority at Duke Energy. This is most important when it comes to kids. Children don’t always know—or remember—what can be dangerous, so it’s up to the adults to watch out for their safety.

The No. 1 safety rule for anyone to remember is this: Don’t touch a power line or anything that’s touching the power line such as a tree limb, kite string or model airplane. No one can tell simply by looking at a line whether it is energized or not, and contact with a power line can be deadly. Electricity seeks the easiest path to reach the ground, and unfortunately, people are good conductors of electricity.

Here are some more important tips for keeping children safe:

  • Don’t build tree houses in trees near electric lines.
  • Don’t allow children to climb trees growing near power lines.
  • Teach children to get help from adults if they need to retrieve anything from a power line, or if they discover damaged or downed lines in the area.
  • Don’t allow children to climb on or even touch the green, pad-mounted transformers that are located in many neighborhoods.
  • Keep children away from any ladders or work equipment being used by Duke Energy professionals. These items also have the potential to be dangerous.
  • Keep power tools and electric lawn tools away from swimming pools and sprinklers.
  • Keep all electric products out of the reach of children.
  • Use plastic outlet caps if young children are in the home.
  • Help children learn to stay away from transformers and other ground-mounted electrical equipment.