Transcript Document

You're in Charge:
The Ins and Outlets of
Electrical Safety
What is
electricity?
– What does it look like?
– What does it smell like?
– What does it taste like?
ANSWER:
None of the Above!
Electricity is created by the
movement of tiny particles called
electrons.
– If an atom looks like our solar system,
electrons are like Earth
– The protons and neutrons that the
electrons orbit are like the Sun
The Positives and
Negatives of Electricity
Like the ends of batteries, the parts
of an atom have different charges.
– Electrons are negatively charged
– Protons are positively charged
– Neutrons have no charge
Orbital
Approach
– Electrons can escape their orbits
This leads to:
– An atom with more protons than
electrons is positively charged
– An atom with fewer protons than
electrons is negatively charged
Keep An
Ion Science
FYIon:
A charged atom is called an "ion."
Conducting
Business
Objects that are conductors of
electricity are made of material
that lets electrons move quickly:
–
–
–
–
Water
Trees
Metals
People
How Is
Electricity Made?
In many power plants,
– Coal is burned in huge furnaces
– Steam from the coal turns a jet
engine-like turbine
– The turning turbine generates
electricity
– Electricity leaves the plant through
power lines
– The steam is cleaned before it leaves
the smokestacks
Tampa Electric’s
Bayside Power Station
–
–
–
–
Uses natural gas instead of coal
Natural gas is even cleaner than coal
The environment is healthier
You get the same electricity in your
home
How Can A Tiny Electrical
Charge Hurt Me?
Think of electrical current like a
current of water.
– A trickle of water won’t feel very
strong
– A crashing wave can knock you off
your feet
Just like:
– A tiny electrical current may give you
a static charge
– A stronger electrical current can hurt
or kill you!
How Do People Who Work
On Power Lines Stay Safe?
– Heavy protection
– Special tools
– Lots of safety training
Even with these things,
accidents can still happen. But
without them, you could be in
big danger.
What’s the Best Way
to Stay Safe?
One way to stay safe is to
AVOID POWER LINES!
– Never dig around power lines
– Never climb roofs or trees around
power lines
– Never throw things like footballs
around power lines
How Else Can I
Stay Safe?
– Always keep cords and wires away
from water and heat
– Never touch water and electrical
devices at the same time
– Never use electrical devices if you’re
wet
– Never put your fingers in an electrical
outlet or light socket
Electrical Items
in My Home
How dangerous are the electrical
items in my home?
– Each year, about 200 people in the
United States die of electrocution
from electric appliances.
Why Are Wires
Dangerous?
Electrical wires, cables or lines
can carry enough electricity to
power the homes in an entire
neighborhood. Usually they are
safe. But sometimes things can
damage them:
– A storm
– A car accident
– A tree limb
Practice the power
of safety!
If you see a power line that’s fallen,
STAY AWAY FROM IT!
– Don’t ever try to go near it
– Tell others to stay away from it
– Call 9-1-1
Auto
Response
If you’re inside a car near a
downed power line, never get out
of the car.
– The electricity is touching the ground
– The ground is a conductor of
electricity
– If you touch the ground, the
electricity will flow into your body
But Wait –
There’s More
If you think something might be
dangerous, don’t touch it!
– Exposed wires
– Old or damaged machinery or
electronics
– Interconnected electronics like
stereo systems
An Outside Chance
of Danger
You’re in a field at a concert, a
game or you’re just passing
through, when suddenly:
– The sky turns dark
– Rain begins to fall
– You hear thunder
What should you do?
Get Inside
Immediately!
But … what if you can’t get to
shelter before lightning begins to
strike?
Lay
Low!
– Lightning usually strikes the tallest
object in a field
– This includes trees
– NEVER HIDE UNDER A TREE WHEN THERE
IS LIGHTNING!
The Land of
Lightning:
More people die from lightning in
Florida than in any other state.
– Warm weather
– Moist air
– A sea breeze
When these three kinds of
weather come together, they
produce thunderstorms.
Remember the
30-30 Rule!
– After you see a flash of lightning,
count the seconds
– If you can’t count to 30 before you
hear thunder, stay inside
– After the last flash of lightning in
a storm, wait 30 minutes before
leaving home
– Half of all people who die from
lightning are struck after the storm
is over
Shocking
Statistics
– The fifth leading cause of accidental
death in the U.S. is electrocution*
– Every 24 hours, someone is
electrocuted in their home**
– Every 36 hours, someone is
electrocuted in the workplace***
*National Electrical Safety Foundation (NESF)
** U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
*** Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Remember the
Children!
Your little brothers and sisters may
not have the kind of common sense
with electricity that you have. Let
them know what’s safe and unsafe
– and if they’re young, do your part
to watch them around electric
objects that could hurt them.
More Than
Meets the Eye
In many neighborhoods, you see
green metal boxes next to the road.
– These are called pad-mount
transformers
– Don’t sit or stand on them
– Don’t let children play on them
Want
More?
Check out
tampaelectric.com
for more information about
electrical safety.
Remember, it’s your responsibility
to stay safe around electricity!