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Electrical safety tips for summer

[MAY 24, 2003]  URBANA -- Whether you're starting a home improvement project, planning to trim a tree, adding to your garden or taking a refreshing swim, consider the electrical equipment around you and the potential hazards to avoid during summer months. Of particular concern are power lines overhead and the added dangers when water and storm activity are present.

"Keep your summer season enjoyable and safe," said Molly Hall, director of Safe Electricity, a statewide electrical safety public awareness program. "Know what to do when thunderstorms and lightning threaten. Be aware of overhead power lines when doing work outside your home. Make sure children know and follow basic safety rules."

Safety tips to keep in mind this summer:

--Look up and around you. Always be aware of the location of power lines, particularly when using long metal tools like ladders, pool skimmers and pruning poles, or when installing rooftop antennas and satellite dishes or doing roof repair work.

--Be especially careful when working near power lines attached to your house. Keep equipment and yourself at least 10 feet from lines. Never trim trees near power lines -- leave that to the professionals.

--If thunderstorms and lightning are approaching, move indoors and stay away from electric appliances and objects that could conduct electricity. Use only cordless or cell phones to make calls. If you're in an open area outside, tingling skin or crackling sounds could signal that lightning is about to strike. Drop down and make yourself as small as possible -- feet together and hands on knees -- with minimal contact with the ground.

--Electricity and water are a dangerous mix. Keep electrical appliances and tools at least 10 feet away from pools and wet surfaces. Never use electric yard tools if it's raining or the ground is wet.

--Never step into a flooded area -- especially basements -- if water is in contact with electrical outlets, appliances or cords. Don't use any electrical appliances or touch circuit breakers or fuses when you're wet or standing in water.

--Be sure outdoor outlets and outlets near wet areas of the kitchen, bath and laundry room have ground fault circuit interrupters to prevent serious shock injuries.

--If your projects include digging, like building a deck or planting a tree, call your utility locating service before you begin. For most of Illinois, it's "JULIE," 1 (800) 892-0123, and in Chicago, call "Digger" 1 (312) 744-7000. Never assume the location or depth of underground utility lines. Call at least two business days ahead of your dig date. This service is free, prevents the inconvenience of having utilities interrupted and can help you avoid serious injury.

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--Help keep utility workers safe. Never post signs or tie banners around utility poles. Posting signs, hanging banners or tying ribbons and balloons onto utility poles puts utility workers at risk and often is a violation of local ordinances forbidding placement of anything on poles.

In addition, Safe Electricity urges everyone to make sure children understand and follow basic safety rules:

--Never climb trees near power lines. Even if the power lines aren't touching the tree, they could touch when more weight is added to the branch.

--Fly kites and model airplanes in large open areas like a park or a field, safely away from trees and overhead power lines. If a kite gets stuck in a tree that's near power lines, don't climb up to get it. Contact your electric utility for assistance.

--Never climb a utility pole. Don't play on or around pad-mounted electrical equipment.

--Never go into an electric substation for any reason -- even on a dare. Electric substations contain high-voltage equipment, which can kill you. Never rescue a pet that goes inside. Call your electric utility instead.

"Storms can also leave electric hazards behind," Hall added. "It's a good idea to keep utility emergency numbers close at hand."

If you see a downed power line, stay far away from it and call your electric utility. Warn others to stay clear of the wires. Assume that all downed power lines are energized. For more safety tips, visit www.SafeElectricity.org.

The Safe Electricity program is created by a coalition of more than three dozen organizations, including the University of Illinois, electric companies and electric cooperatives from across the state. All are members of the Illinois Electric Council, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting electric safety and efficiency.

[News release]

'Heart healthy' cooking classes offered

[MAY 17, 2003]  Learn how to cook foods that are lower in fat and sodium in the "Heart Healthy Eating" series sponsored by University of Illinois Extension, Logan County. If you have heart disease, including high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you know choosing and preparing foods can be a real challenge.

The program objective is to increase participants' knowledge of risk factors for heart disease, dietary factors and their relationship to heart disease, and to review how individuals can affect their own heart health. Ways to alter foods to reduce fat and salt will be discussed in the classes.

"Those attending will learn how to cook with low-fat products, herbs and spices and using less salt," explains Jananne Finck, nutrition and wellness educator with University of Illinois Extension. Finck is a registered dietitian at the Springfield Extension Center.

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"Everyone will get recipes to help them plan healthy meals at home," adds John Fulton, unit leader for Logan Extension. Cost is $10 per person for the two sessions. A minimum of 15 participants is needed, and preregistration is needed by Thursday, June 12. There will be two sessions, June 17 and 18, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Logan County Extension office, 980 N. Postville Drive.

For more details about this program or if you need reasonable accommodations to participate in this program, please call (217) 732-8289. Registrations will be taken at the same number.

[News release]

Animals for Adoption

Animal Control open Saturdays 

[APRIL 18, 2003]  Beginning April 28, Logan County Animal Control is experimenting for 60 days with Saturday hours. The new hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Only registration, payment of fines and animal pickup can be accomplished on Saturday. Adoptions must take place during the week.

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