FirstEnergy Reminds Customers to Keep Safety First This Spring

AKRON, Ohio, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) encourages customers to review electrical safety practices since warmer temperatures mean spring cleaning indoors as well as yard work and outdoor fun.

Outdoors

• Spring can bring stormy weather.  Never go near a downed wire and warn others to stay away.  Report downed wires to your local police or fire department, or call our outage reporting number at 888-LIGHTSS (888-544-4877).
• Don't use a ladder anywhere near overhead wires.  Please be sure to place any ladder on level ground.
• Lights should be approved for outdoor use by Underwriters Laboratory.  Look for "UL" to be clearly displayed on the lights' tag before use.
• All outdoor outlets, lighting fixtures, and bulbs should be weatherproof and protected by ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breakers.
• Turn off outdoor circuits before replacing bulbs or adjusting outdoor lighting.
• When using outdoor electrical appliances such as hedge trimmers or edgers, wear sturdy, rubber-soled shoes or boots.  Never go barefoot.
• Never use electric tools or mowers in wet areas.
• Never use a power tool around flammable liquids such as gasoline or solvents.
• If needed, be sure heavy-duty, outdoor extension cords are being used.
• Never let children fly kites or motorized airplanes near power lines.  If a kite gets stuck in a tree, check first to make sure no power lines are nearby before retrieving it.
• If you have underground utility service, make sure you know where electric, telephone, cable TV, water, and sewer lines are located before doing any major digging in your yard.  Call the Ohio Utilities Protection Service at 8-1-1 or
  1-800-362-2764 before you dig.

Indoors

• If fuses blow or circuit breakers trip frequently, or lights dim when other appliances are in use, you should have your electrical system checked by a qualified electrician.
• Use GFCI breakers around water, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
• Check lights for frayed wires or any other damage, particularly if there is a pet in the household.
• Lights or heat-producing appliances should not be placed near combustibles such as paper, drapes, furniture or carpeting.
• Keep electric motors clean and free from lint, dust, and dirt to prevent overheating.  Always unplug appliances before cleaning them.
• If you have children in your home, use safety caps on all electrical outlets.
• Protect electrical or extension cords from damage.  Do not place a cord where it's likely to be walked on.  Avoid twisting, kinking, or crushing the cord.
• Never operate an appliance or wrap an electrical or extension cord around a metal object.

For more details about keeping safe around electricity, local groups can request a presentation through the FirstEnergy Speakers Bureau.  For more information, contact [email protected].

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence.  Its 10 electric distribution companies comprise one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems.  Its diverse generating fleet features non-emitting nuclear, scrubbed baseload coal, natural gas, and pumped-storage hydro and other renewables, and has a total generating capacity of nearly 23,000 megawatts.

www.firstenergycorp.com

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.