As the school year has ended, children around the city are out in their communities enjoying their well-earned vacation. Toronto Hydro wants to make sure that all kids in the city have a safe summer by educating them about the risks around electrical equipment.

To help kids play safe, 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
  • 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
  • Water and electricity do not mix Keep all electrical devices away from water. Danger is present when electricity and water come in contact. It’s important that electrically-powered devices aren’t used around swimming pools or lakes

To learn more about electrical safety, visit torontohydro.com/safety.

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. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)
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. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)

QUICK FACTS

  • 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

“In a large city, electrical equipment is all around us. By following our tips, kids in Toronto can still get outside and enjoy the summer, but they’ll be able to do it safely.” –    Tori Gass, Spokesperson, Toronto Hydro

ABOUT TORONTO HYDRO

Toronto Hydro owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 757,000 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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Don't climb or play on green transformer boxes you see on the street. These contain electrical equipment and should be avoided at all times. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)
Don’t climb or play on green transformer boxes you see on the street. These contain electrical equipment and should be avoided at all times. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)