Thunderstorm safety tips from the American Red Cross

Ensuring the safety of the public and our team is critical for us at Pickwick Electric Cooperative. Electricity is important, but it can also be dangerous. Among our highest priorities is providing our employees who work tirelessly to keep the lights on with the training, equipment and resources needed to do their jobs safely.

Despite our best efforts, one of the greatest threats to their safety is something that is outside our control. That’s where you come in. I want to address a critical issue that impacts the safety of our workers: the importance of moving over when driving past a roadside utility crew.

Did you know that in Tennessee it is not just a recommendation but a state law to move over when passing a utility crew working on the side of the road? Electric co-ops worked to have utility crews included in Tennessee’s existing Move Over Law in 2011. This law is in place to protect the lives of those who maintain and repair our electrical infrastructure.

Beyond being a legal requirement, it is also a matter of common courtesy and basic human decency.

Unfortunately, despite these laws and the ongoing efforts to raise awareness, roadside utility workers continue to be at risk of injury or death due to passing vehicles. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, 30 workers are killed each year in the United States after being struck by passing vehicles while working on or near roadways. These are not just numbers; they represent husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters whose lives have been tragically cut short.

In addition to the lives lost, many more utility workers are injured every year in similar incidents. These injuries can have lasting effects on their physical and mental well-being, not to mention the impact on their families and loved ones.

We all have a responsibility to ensure the safety of those who work to provide essential services, including electricity. Moving over when passing a roadside utility crew is a simple yet powerful way to show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

The next time you see utility crews working on the side of the road, please remember to move over if it is safe to do so. Slow down, pay attention and give them the space they need to work safely. Let’s work together to protect the lives of our utility workers and ensure they safely return home to their families at the end of the day.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and thank you to our utility workers for all they do to keep our communities powered and connected.

One way you might not have thought about when you’re figuring out ways to lower your energy bills is that heating water can cost a lot.

In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that water heating accounts for approximately 18% of all the energy your family consumes in the home.

Here are five water-based energy-saving tips:

1. Lower the temperature of your water heat to “warm,” which is 120 degrees. This will save energy. A bonus: A lower water temperature lowers the risk of scalding, especially for elderly bathers and children.
2. Upgrade your water heater to a newer, energy-efficient model. If yours was made before 2004 when new federal energy-efficiency regulations too effect, you’re spending more than you need to heat water.
3. If you’re buying a new water heater, choose one that “fits” your home. That is, a water heater that’s too small for your family’s needs will be overworked, so its burner is constantly running. A larger one doesn’t need to run the burner nonstop.
4. Take shorter showers. Doctors say a five- to 10-minute shower is just enough. Any more, and the hot water can dry out or even damage the surface of your skin. Any less might not be enough time to get clean and hydrate your skin.
5. Insulate the water heater and pipes. Pick up an insulating “blanket” made from insulating material to prevent heat from seeping into the air instead of the water.

Photo by Michael DeMarco on Unsplash

You still have plenty of time before you’ll need to crank up the air conditioning at home. Use the spring season to do some maintenance that could help your air conditioner run more efficiently and reliably this summer.

Here are five tips:

1. Replace air filters before you turn the air conditioning on for the first time. Then, replace them again about once a month until autumn. Clean air filters allow conditioned air to flow easily through your rooms. And they lower the amount of dust, dander and pollutants that get pushed into your indoor air.
2. Move lamps away from thermostats. Electronics and lamps give off heat when they’re turned on, which can fool your thermostat into thinking the room is warmer than it is.
3. Seal leaks. If you felt cold drafts coming inside during the winter, find the sources of the leaks and caulk them. Look around ducts, cables and wires on the interior side of outdoor walls. Those same leaks will let cool air escape during the summer.
4. Switch the direction of your ceiling fan blades. For warm weather, the blades should rotate counterclockwise.
5. Schedule an HVAC inspection. A qualified HVAC pro can spot problems before they occur and make sure your equipment is maintained and ready for warm weather.

Spring is a great time to save energy at home when most days are neither cold nor hot, so you don’t need to turn on either the heat or air conditioning.

Take advantage of the nice weather to use less energy now and prepare your home to be more efficient this summer. Some tips:

1. Open the windows—all of them—to create a cross-breeze all over the house. This keeps the home cool without air conditioning.
2. Call an HVAC service tech to inspect your air conditioning system. A springtime check will give you a chance to repair any problems before the weather gets hot and a poorly maintained system leaves you without cool indoor air.
3. Switch your ceiling fan blades so they rotate counterclockwise. This will create a downward breeze, which will keep anyone in the room comfortable.
4. Use a caulk gun to seal cracks and openings on the indoor side of exterior walls—like around cable and phone lines and electrical outlets.
5. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, now is a great time to install one. This device can save you 5% to 15% on heating and cooling bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, because it adjusts the temperature for times when the family is sleeping or away from the house.

As you ready your house for warmer weather, take some time to check these items off your list:

• Test the ground-fault circuit interrupters—or GFCIs—in bathrooms, the laundry room and other spaces where you use running water. Plug a hair dryer or any device into the outlet, turn it on, and then push the “test” button. The hair dryer should turn off. Press “reset,” and it should turn back on. If that doesn’t happen, call a licensed electrician to check it out.
• Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Push the “test” button, and the alarm should sound. Or light a match and hold it next to the fire alarm. It should sound.
• It’s almost air conditioning season, which means it’s time to change your a/c filters. Dirty filters make the a/c work too hard and can even wear your HVAC system out before its time. Replace filters about once a month during the summer.

As you open the windows and start spring-cleaning your home, add another item to your to-do list: Clean your lawn tools.

Your electric lawnmower, weed trimmer and hedge trimmer have been cooped up and unused for months. And you’ll need to do more than knock the dust off of them.

Cordless lawnmowers and power tools need regular cleaning and maintenance so they operate properly. Good news: They’re easier to take care of than gas-powered tools.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your specific models. Generally:

• Remove the tool’s battery before you get started, and slip on a sturdy pair of gloves to protect your hands.
• Use a dry cloth to wipe down the device and remove cobwebs, dust, loose dirt and dead bugs.
• With a plastic scraper or a bristle brush, scrub off dried mud and grass all over the device, even underneath.
• Damp-clean the machine all over with a wet cloth, but steer clear of the motor. Take extra care around the blade.
• Look for cracks on the casing and determine if the tool is still usable. Check that the handle is tight and sturdy. Inspect the blade for rust.
• Fully charge the tool, replacing the battery if it has gotten damaged over the winter.

When thunderstorms are rolling your way, stay safe with these helpful tips from the American Red Cross:

• Listen to local news or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency updates. Watch for signs of a storm, like darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing wind.
• Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely to occur. Many people struck by lightning are not in the area where rain is occurring.
• If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued, take shelter in a substantial building or in a vehicle with the windows closed. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds.
• If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be in danger from lightning. If thunder roars, go indoors! The National Weather Service recommends staying inside for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap.
• Avoid electrical equipment and telephones. Use battery-powered TVs and radios instead.
• Shutter windows and close outside doors securely. Keep away from windows.
• Do not take a bath, shower or use plumbing.
• If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.
• If you are outside and cannot reach a safe building, avoid high ground; water; tall, isolated trees; and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are NOT safe.

Source: American Red Cross