Pepco's Speakers Bureau Program includes electrical safety demonstration

Washington, D.C. - In recognition of May as National Electrical Safety Month, Pepco wants to remind the public that electrical safety should be practiced every day.

Electric shocks kill nearly 400 people and injure thousands more around the nation each year, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International.

Pepco encourages school administrators, community groups and others to contact the company's Speakers Bureau to schedule an electrical safety demonstration. The Speakers Bureau contact information is: 202-872-2089.

"We need to inform more people, children in particular, of the potential hazards involved when using electricity," said Mike Gallagher, Manager, Safety Services for Pepco. "The company's Speakers Bureau program is the best venue for doing just that."

"With the onset of spring, many people will be working outdoors, trimming trees and such," Gallagher said. "It is imperative for them to know where the electric wires and equipment are located and how to work safely around them," he added.

Gallagher recommended that people avoid unnecessary risks when working around electricity by calling a licensed contractor or electrician.

He said if people are planning to dig safely on their property, they must first call 811 (the number for One Call) to make sure the underground utilities are located and marked in advance of digging.

Here are some additional electrical safety tips from Pepco:

• If you see a downed wire, stay away and call Pepco's emergency outage number at: 1-877-PEPCO-62
  
• Remind children to stay away from electric facilities such as substations, transmission towers and the green electrical metal boxes occasionally placed in front yards.
  
• When carrying long or tall items, such as ladders, tree saws and pool cleaning equipment, hold them parallel to the ground. Look up before you raise them into the air to be sure they're clear of any power lines.

• Remember that electricity can move through conductive materials, such as water, metal, wood, aluminum, string and plastics.
• Stay away from overhead lines. Be careful when trimming trees or working near the electrical connection to your property.

For more information on using electricity safely, visit www.pepco.com.

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Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 750,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.