August 25, 2021

A recent event in The Illuminating Company’s (CEI) service territory featured bright lights, loud noises, excited kids and Cleveland Indians mascots Slider and The Dogs – but it wasn’t a baseball game. An electrical safety demonstration was held for more than 30 youngsters at the King Kennedy Boys & Girls Club.

Four CEI employees – Josh Hance, manager, Operations Services; and Regional Operations supervisors Juan Morell, Tom (T.J.) Guinter and Kevin Pacifico – operated one of FirstEnergy’s new Live Wire Electrical Safety trailers to explain the dangers associated with electricity. The 24-foot trailer is fitted with power lines, transformers and other electric conductors as well as metal items, such as ladders and car doors that could come in contact with energized equipment.

The children – aged 5 to 13 – gathered in the parking lot of the club and watched intently as the CEI employees created bright arcs of electricity by energizing the various items attached to the trailer. In addition, a few loud “booms” could be heard when the workers showed what happens when a fuse blows along a power line.

Regional Operations Supervisor Kevin Pacifico demonstrates how electricity can arc by touching a work glove to an energized metal car door.

The exhibition highlighted the importance of keeping a safe distance from electrical equipment and reminded participants to never attempt to retrieve a kite or any type of object that is caught in power lines.

“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, FEU Safety & Human Performance. “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.”

Events like the one at the Boys & Girls Club are part of FirstEnergy’s Stop. Look. Live. campaign to educate the public about staying safe when working or playing near electrical lines and equipment, according to Candy Webb, consultant, Public Safety. “Our goal is to help protect the groups that are most at-risk of encountering safety hazards, including first responders, high-risk contractors and school students,” she said.

“This event was just one of a series of events that we are holding with our sports partners – like the Cleveland Indians, Browns and Cavaliers – as part of our enhanced focus on being a catalyst for positive change in the communities we serve,” said Doug Colafella, director, Communications & Branding. “Working with the Cleveland Indians and in close collaboration with the Safety team, we were able to bring our Stop. Look. Live. public safety message to school-aged children while also highlighting our valuable work in our communities, which is important to our branding efforts.”

A new fleet of Live Wire Electrical Safety trailers are available to each of our 10 operating companies and will be used to participate in programs – like the one at the Boys and Girls Club – across our service territory.

Candy added, “I’d like to thank our CEI and Safety personnel for operating the trailer and spending part of their day educating the kids about electricity. They did a great job explaining the information and keeping the kids engaged during the presentation.”​

To learn more about the Stop. Look. Live. campaign and review important tips to stay safe around electricity, visit FirstEnergy’s Public Safety website.

Kids from the King Kennedy Boys & Girls Club had a lot of questions for CEI employees during their electrical safety demonstration.