FirstEnergy Partners with Indians to Host Electrical Safety Demo at the King Kennedy Boys & Girls Club in Cleveland

electrical safety demo
electrical safety demo
electrical safety demo
electrical safety demo
electrical safety demo
electrical safety demo

When it comes to electrical safety, knowledge is the best kind of power. That’s why FirstEnergy recently teamed up with the Cleveland Indians to host a live electrical safety demonstration for more than 30 children at the King Kennedy Boys & Girls Club in Cleveland.

Kids between the ages of 5 and 13 enjoyed a fun-filled and educational day, where they played games and had a special visit from Indians’ pitcher Zach Plesac and the team’s beloved mascots, Slider and The Dogs.

Plesac has a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Ohio for his Plesac’s Pals program, which includes a series of visits to Boys & Girls Clubs across greater Cleveland and is sponsored by FirstEnergy. The program focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging youth to remain active.

“Maintaining a healthy lifestyle includes being safe, especially around electricity,” said Plesac. “It was an honor to team up with our local electric company to encourage our young community to lead healthy and safe lifestyles.”

To paint a clear picture of the dangers associated with electricity, the children gathered in the parking lot of the Club to watch as FirstEnergy utility and safety personnel demonstrated the power of 7,200 volts of electricity against various materials using a mobile electrical safety exhibit. The live wire electrical distribution trailer features energized electrical wires, utility poles and transformers.

“Safety is a core value at FirstEnergy, and this event is a reflection of our daily focus on safety that extends beyond our employees and into the communities we serve,” said Laura Redenshek, director of safety for FirstEnergy Utilities. “Children tend to grasp concepts by what they can see, and our safety demonstration allows them to see the dangers of electricity firsthand in a controlled environment, so they retain the knowledge and share it with their friends and family.”

Cleveland-area utility personnel from FirstEnergy created bright arcs by using a transformer to send electricity through various materials, including a wet kite string and tree limbs. The demonstration highlighted the importance of staying far away from power lines and electrical equipment, as well as reminded youth to never attempt to retrieve a kite or any type of object that is caught in power lines.

The safety demonstration is part of FirstEnergy’s “Stop. Look. Live.” safety campaign to educate the public about staying safe around electricity and near power lines and equipment. The campaign kicked off last fall and features engaging and memorable initiatives to help protect targeted groups that are most at-risk of encountering safety hazards, including first-responder organizations and contractors. The campaign also features an educational program for children.

Visit www.firstenergycorp.com/publicsafety to learn more about FirstEnergy's "Stop. Look. Live." campaign and review important tips to stay safe around electricity. Photos from the event can be viewed here.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Siburkis, (330) 203-8850

Last Modified: August 16, 2021