Hot Spot, CLECO’s power pooch, helped teach students at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic School the do’s and don’ts of electricity and power lines.

Assisted by Miss Myrtle, resplendent in rollers, funny glasses and a muumuu, the CLECO education crew gave lessons on electricity safety both inside and outside of homes. Some pointers to remember at home for safe electricity were given by Miss Myrtle.

They include not using electrical appliances around water, such as drying your hair while taking a bath; watch for worn or broken extension cords; don’t overload adapters by plugging too many appliances into one; don’t string an extension cord across a room under a rug—by stepping on the extension cord, it can become worn and cause a fire; and don’t yank plugs from the socket, instead gently pull the plug by the wide insulation near the prongs.

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When outside, if something catches on a wire, do not attempt to retrieve it. Electricity can pass through material such as ladders, poles, wooden tree branches and other materials. If a wire is along the ground, leave it alone and call 911 or CLECO or your utilities provider so they may check the wire. Do not attempt to pick it up or drive over it. In the event a live wire falls on your car, the safest thing to do is stay in your car unless it is on fire and you need to vacate. If you must vacate, jump as far from the vehicle as you possibly can to avoid contact with the wire.

Electricity also travels along the ground, so try to avoid a conductor such as tree roots or standing water. The linemen all wear protective coverings such as gloves, hard hats and flame resistant clothing. They also are especially trained and attend two-week classes every year for seven years in dealing with emergencies and how to keep the public safe.

One of the most destructive things linemen must deal with is nails, staples and pin pricks on the telephone poles that can snag the specially-designed gloves. The smallest hole can render the lineman defenseless against electricity.

Another problem is people shooting the insulators off the tops of power poles.

At the end of the presentation, the students were given coloring books and an impromptu quiz was held whereby students could win a bracelet for the correct answer.

Throughout the demonstrations and program, Hot Spot stood steadfastly ready to assist. A star in his own right, he ended the day by high fives with the students.

Robbyn Cooper, spokesperson for CLECO, said the educational programs help children understand the dangers of electricity and how to avoid troublesome “hot spots,” the term used for areas that are dangerous and pose a risk near power lines.