Uniondale, NY - May 2, 2016 - May is National Electrical Safety Month and PSEG Long Island is working across the service territory to remind its customers that being safe around electric lines and equipment and being aware of electrical dangers in and around the home is a year-round commitment. Through partnerships with schools, youth groups and community organizations, the utility is using its Electric Safety Education Program to help its customers be safe around electricity. The program shares presentations and tips for children on how electricity works and how to use it wisely and safely.
Electricity is safe and reliable when used properly. Like any other source of energy, it can be hazardous if used without caution and care. With more than 10 presentations currently scheduled, the utility anticipates reaching more than 2,500 children and families during Electrical Safety Month. In the presentations, the Electric Safety Education team creates scenarios to teach children and families what to do in dangerous situations and what precautions should be taken to avoid getting hurt.
“National Electrical Safety Month is promoted in May, but safety is always PSEG Long Island’s top priority,” said Dan Eichhorn, vice president, customer services, PSEG Long Island. “From informational videos, email and social media updates and onsite presentations, we partner with our customers to promote electrical safety education through a variety of channels. Additionally, we work hard to make sure our customers know how to be prepared for storms and how to stay in touch with us to report outages and unsafe conditions.”
In addition to its program for school age children, the PSEG Foundation partnered with Sesame Workshop to develop the Let’s Get Ready and Here for Each Other apps to help prepare preschool children for emergencies.
Let's Get Ready! Planning Together for Emergencies helps adults explain to young children various ways they can be physically and emotionally prepared for an emergency. Resources include a free Sesame Street Let’s Get Ready Mobile App (available on iOS, Android, and Kindle) and an online toolkit with video and downloadable resources for parents, caregivers, educators and children.
Here for Each Other: Helping Families After Emergencies helps adults and children cope with disasters. These resources provide ways to talk as a family about what happened, while remaining hopeful for better things to come. With this information families can create a comfortable and caring environment, no matter where they are, even when they are not surrounded by their familiar things. Resources include an online toolkit which contains Sesame Street videos, highlighting the importance of asking questions, showing comfort, and coping with emotions. Additional downloadable resources include a family and community guide.
The safety of PSEG Long Island’s customers is a top priority. The utility is excited to continue these presentations to children. For information on having a presenter speak at your school, camp or event, please complete the Community Partnership Program request form on PSEG Long Island’s website or send a request via email.
PSEG Long Island operates the Long Island Power Authority’s transmission and distribution system under a 12-year contract. PSEG Long Island is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (NYSE:PEG), a publicly traded diversified energy company with annual revenues of approximately $10.4 billion.