Look up and look out! Toronto Hydro wants you to stay safe this summer

Summer safety event makes learning fun

TORONTO, June 19, 2015 /CNW/ - As the school year is quickly coming to a close, children around the city will be out in their communities enjoying their well-earned vacation.  Toronto Hydro is making sure that all kids in the city have a safe summer by educating them about the risks around electrical equipment.

Today, Toronto Hydro crews took their Summer Safety Event to Grade 1 children at Ryerson Community School in the city's downtown. Kids learned about the dangers involving electrical equipment by playing games - including an emergency kit relay - and were treated to an up-close look at a Toronto Hydro bucket truck. Toronto Hydro staff reminded kids to follow these tips:

• Look up, look down, look around - Before you work or play, take a few minutes to evaluate your surroundings. Look above, below and around your area to spot potential hazards
• Never climb trees or fly kites near powerlines - Climbing trees near powerlines is dangerous. Look carefully for hidden powerlines covered by branches and leaves. Always choose wide-open spaces where you can't see any powerlines to fly kites and never attempt to retrieve a kite that is tangled in a powerline
• Water and electricity do not mix - Keep all electrical devices away from water. Danger is present when electricity and water danger come in contact. It's important that electrically-powered devices aren't used around swimming pools or lakes
• Don't climb or play near electrical equipment - The green transformer boxes you see on the street contain electrical equipment and should be avoided at all times. Find a safe location away from electrical equipment to play
• Remind mom and dad to watch out for powerlines and electrical equipment too -Whether they're climbing a ladder or digging in the backyard, make sure mom and dad are aware of potential hazards

QUICK FACTS

• More than 50 kids participated in the safety event
• Toronto Hydro has been holding the Summer Safety Event at Toronto schools since 2013
• There are more than 15,000 kilometres of overhead wires in the city of Toronto, with another 12,000 kilometres underground
• In Ontario, electrical injuries resulted in approximately 1,700 emergency room visits in children under 15 between 2003 and 2012

QUOTES

"Educating kids about electrical safety when they're young is the best way to make sure they play safe for their whole lives.    And summer is the time of year that kids are outside, near electrical equipment and at the greatest risk, so it's important to keep them safe. "

• Tori Gass, Media Relations Specialist, Toronto Hydro

ABOUT TORONTO HYDRO

Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 740,000 customers located in the city of Toronto. It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 18% of the electricity consumed in the province of Ontario.

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SOURCE Toronto Hydro Corporation

Image with caption: "Kids at Ryerson Community School examine a bucket truck while learning about electrical safety from Toronto Hydro crew members. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150619_C9707_PHOTO_EN_43602.jpg

Image with caption: "Kids at Ryerson Community School examine a bucket truck while learning about electrical safety from Toronto Hydro crew members. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150619_C9707_PHOTO_EN_43603.jpg

Tori Gass, Communications and Public Relations, 416-903-4037, [email protected]; 24-hours media line: 416-903-6845, [email protected]