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OCTOBER 2012  PAGE 7 PLAY IT SAFE


College kids think they know it all Remind them to take precautions with electricity


BY GUY DALE coordinator of safety & loss control


power lines and substations, but they fail to practice common sense when it comes to indoor electrical safety.


I


It’s an alarming fact that electrical hazards are a main cause of fires in dorm rooms. Some 1,800 fires a year occur in campus dormitories, often because students overload extension cords and outlets. Cooking accidents, unattended candles and careless smoking also are culprits.


In many older dorms and buildings the wiring simply isn’t designed for the heavy loads today’s students put on them. Just think about the gadgets: plug in computers, printers, microwave ovens, coffee makers, cell phones, iPods and more. Not only are students filling outlets with more appliances, but the higher-tech they are, the more power they require.


Here are some precautions worth sharing with your college student.


 Just because a power strip has six or eight outlets doesn’t mean the circuit that powers it can handle eight appliances.


 Choose a power strip with over-current protection that will automatically cut the power if it’s overloaded.


 If the dorm room’s outlets are designed for two-prong plugs, attach three-prong cords to adaptors. Never cut off the third prong.


 When you use an extension cord, look


t may surprise your college kids when they realize they don’t know everything. For instance, most college- age students know to stay away from


Halloween Art Contest


It’s the spookiest time of the year, and with autumn in the air and happy haunts all around, Choctaw Electric Cooperative is looking for CREATIVE KIDS to enter our 2012 art contest.


for wattage instructions that will tell you how many appliances you can safely plug into the cord. The wattage limit is usually engraved on the plug. Then, look on your appliances for wattage. If you’re plugging more than one appliance into an extension cord, add up the wattages.


 Don’t string multiple extension cords together, and remember they aren’t designed for permanent use.


 Unplug appliances immediately if an outlet feels hot. Notify a dormitory authority about it so they can resolve the problem before it causes a fire.


 Get rid of older halogen lamps. Newer models have mesh guards to prevent the bulb from touching other parts of the lamp, and an automatic shut-off switch in case the lamp tips over.


Hopefully, these precautions won’t fall on deaf ears. A dorm fire is one lesson most college students would rather not learn on their own.


Guy Dale presents free electrical safety programs for area classrooms and civic groups. To schedule a safety demonstration, please call him at 800-780-6486,ext. 227.


• Be creative • Be spooky • Be creepy


Here’s what to do:


Draw a picture of Willie Wiredhand in a Halloween setting. You could show Willie trick or treating, in a haunted house or maybe carving his own pumpkin!


Drawings can be any size using your choice of media. Entries must be turned in to your local CEC office by no later than 5 pm on October 26. Please include name, address and telephone number on the back of your entry.


The winning artwork will be published in Inside Your Co-op.


For more details, please contact Jia Johnson or Brad Kendrick at 800-780- 6486, ext. 248.


CO-OP


We offer low interest loans for small and large appliances.


Loan applications are available online at www. choctawelectric.coop, or call 800-780-6486.


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