Celebrate The Fourth Of July Safely With Tips From PG&E

SAN FRANCISCO, July 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation prepares to celebrate Independence Day, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) reminds customers to observe the holiday safely.

"Please ensure that safety doesn't take a holiday this weekend," said Janet Loduca, PG&E's vice president of Safety, Health & Environment. "Whether you're attending a parade in hot weather, barbequing with friends and family, or enjoying your favorite tradition, always be aware of surroundings to make sure you and your loved ones stay safe while having fun."

For a safe and happy holiday, PG&E—which operates a vast network of electric lines, natural gas pipes and hydropower facilities throughout Northern and Central California—is asking its customers to follow these electric, gas and water safety tips:

Electric Safety Tips

• "Look Up and Live!" – Use caution and keep fireworks, balloons and toys away from overhead electric lines. Contact with lines can lead to serious injury, fires and outages.
• Never attempt to retrieve anything that becomes caught in a power line. Leave it alone and immediately call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report the problem.
• Never go near a power line that has fallen to the ground, is dangling in the air or appears to be damaged. Always assume downed electric lines are energized and dangerous. Stay away, keep others away and immediately call 911 to alert the police and fire departments.

Gas Safety Tips

• Planting a tree? Digging a hole for a barbeque pit or fence post? Dig safely by calling 811 at least two days before digging to avoid striking underground lines. It's free!
• Never leave a gas flame—such as a stove or barbeque—unattended. According to Cal Fire, the leading cause of home fires is cooking fires.
• Never use water to put out a grease fire. Water can cause the grease to splash and spread the fire. Use baking soda, or if a fire is in a pan, smother the flames with a lid.
• If you smell gas, leave the area immediately and call 911 or PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

Water Safety Tips

• Stay off of flume walkways and never get in a flume or canal. Flumes have steep, slippery sides and icy cold water. Once in a canal or flume, it can be very difficult to get out.
• With the drought causing lower lakes and rivers, unseen hazards like rocks and trees can be exposed, or closer to the surface.
• Conditions change quickly in open water and even the best swimmers can misjudge the water and their skills when boating or swimming. Wearing a life jacket can increase survival time. Know your skill and don't swim or boat alone.
• Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool: they need to be aware of uneven surfaces, river currents, ocean undertow and changing weather. Never leave children unattended.

To learn more about other electric, gas and water safety tips, visit www.pge.com/safety.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.

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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)