As summer activities ramp up, FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) is advising families to prioritize safety while enjoying outdoor events. The company highlights the importance of taking precautions to prevent power outages and ensure a safe environment during popular summer festivities.
Chad Stoneking, Director of Safety Operations at FirstEnergy, stated, “We want everyone to enjoy the season without any surprises. A little awareness goes a long way in keeping your family safe and your party energized.”
FirstEnergy has released a video offering tips for maintaining safety during summer activities. Among these are recommendations regarding festive foil balloons, which can cause power outages if they come into contact with electrical equipment due to their metallic coating. To avoid this risk, helium-filled balloons should be securely tied to weights and properly disposed of after use.
The company also advises leaving fireworks displays to professionals and ensuring that fireworks are only used in open areas away from power lines. In case of accidental contact with electrical equipment, it is crucial to call 911 immediately.
For drone enthusiasts, FirstEnergy promotes its Drone Safety Zone video game as an educational tool for learning best practices for operating drones safely around electrical equipment.
Stoneking emphasized the importance of safety measures: “Help us keep your summer safe and bright – tie down those balloons, keep fireworks away from power lines and always call us if you see something unsafe.”
Additional safety reminders include avoiding flying kites or drones near power lines, not retrieving items tangled in wires but instead contacting FirstEnergy at 888-544-4877, maintaining a distance of at least 10 feet between cords or devices and pools or spas, using battery-powered devices outdoors when possible, covering outdoor outlets to protect them from moisture, being cautious around overhead lines when towing boats or climbing trees, and reporting downed wires by calling 911.
For more information on staying safe around electricity and power lines, visit www.firstenergycorp.com/publicsafety.
FirstEnergy emphasizes its commitment to integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence. It operates one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the United States through its distribution companies serving Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. The company’s transmission subsidiaries manage approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines connecting the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.
For further details about FirstEnergy’s initiatives or media inquiries:
– Hannah Catlett (Ohio Edison), Toledo Edison
– Todd Meyers (West Penn Power), Penelec
– Will Boye (Mon Power), Potomac Edison
– Chris Hoenig (JCP&L)
Visit FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com for additional resources.
