Students are heading back to school and classrooms, and study spaces are filling with laptops, tablets and chargers. Electricity powers modern learning, but safe habits are essential to prevent injuries, electric shocks and fire hazards.
Practice safe device usage
In the classroom and at home, managing plugs, chargers and outlets properly helps protect both students and devices:
-
Only insert electrical plugs into outlets. Never stick foreign objects into sockets.
-
Avoid overloading outlets. Do not force plugs into crowded power strips or wall outlets.
-
Manage cords safely. Use extension cords only temporarily. Inspect cords regularly for fraying or damage and replace damaged cords immediately. Keep cords out of walkways to prevent tripping hazards, and never run them under carpets, doors or windows, where they can become damaged and create a fire risk.
-
Always use the correct wattage light bulbs for lamps and light fixtures.
-
Disconnect chargers and small appliances when not in use to conserve energy and reduce heat buildup.
Respect outdoor infrastructure
Electrical safety begins before students even enter the building. Remind kids to keep a safe distance from high-voltage equipment on their route to school:
-
Stay away from utility electrical equipment, including substations and transmission towers.
-
Never play on utility poles, near overhead power lines, or climb trees near power lines.
-
Avoid flying kites near power lines.
-
Never climb over fences with electrical equipment on the other side to retrieve lost toys or items. Avoid transformers (the green metal boxes in yards and near sidewalks). Sitting or playing on them poses severe shock risks.
A few quick precautions keep tech powered up and students safe throughout the school year.
