SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 10 SafeElectricity-guide
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wisps of smoke were rising from his chest when Maria Worth came upon her injured son. Shawn Miller was unconscious and badly burned. He had been hanging holiday lights in the trees that lined her yard. As he tossed the lights up into the trees, 7200 volts of electricity had entered his body, traveling from the overhead power lines through his strand of lights.
Miller had to be revived three times and ultimately, survived the tremendous shock. He lost his left hand and a finger on his right hand, suffering 27 exit wounds throughout his body. Dozens of surgeries and skin grafts later, he is a walking miracle who wants to offer others the gift of electrical safety awareness for the holiday season. He has joined forces with Safe Electricity's Teach Learn Care TLC campaign to get the word out about the importance of electrical safety.
"Power lines were the last thing on my mind that day," said Miller. "I was just hanging Christmas lights at my Mom's house like I do every year, only this time, I was decorating a new area, the trees that lined the front of the yard.
"I'm lucky to be alive. I want everyone to be careful, be aware of power lines."
Miller asks people to spend time making themselves aware of their surroundings before working with or around items that use electricity, indoors and out. He and Safe Electricity encourage everyone to follow these guidelines as they prepare for holiday and seasonal celebrations this year:
- Never throw holiday lights or other decorations into trees near power lines.
- Use only lights that have been safety tested and have the UL label.
- Before use, check each light string for broken sockets, frayed cords, or faulty plugs. Replace damaged strings. Always unplug light strings while replacing bulbs.
- Don't string together more than three standard-size sets of lights.
- Make sure extension cords are in good condition, are UL-approved and rated to carry the electrical load you will connect to them.
- Match plugs with outlets. Don't force a 3-pronged plug into a 2-pronged outlet or extension cord.
- Do not overload outlets. Use surge protector strips if multiple outlets are needed.
- Keep electric cords away from high-traffic areas, and don't run them through doorways, or hide them under rugs or carpets.
- Outdoors, use only lights, cords, animated displays and decorations rated for outdoor use. Cords should be plugged into outlets equipped with GFCIs. Use a portable GFCI if your outdoor outlets are not equipped with them.
- Do not staple or nail through light strings or electrical cords, or attach cords to utility poles
- Don't let children or pets play with light strings or electrical decorations.
- Place fresh-cut trees away from heat sources, such as heat registers, fireplaces, radiators and televisions; and water frequently.
- Always unplug lights before going to bed or leaving your home.
Miller and his family gathered at his
Indiana home to record interviews for Teach Learn Care public service announcements, and he had some emotional moments as he recalled the aftermath of the accident and all his family has been through since that day. But his resolve and resiliency was obvious as he spoke candidly about what he has learned from this tragedy.
"After something life-changing happens, you become more interested and learn much more," Miller said. "Had I known more before this happened, I might still have two hands and the job I loved. I have to find ways to move on with my life and help people learn from what has happened to me. Safe Electricity is helping me help others."
He and his mother Maria spoke about what they wanted the public to know, and she hopes people will take a life-saving lesson from Shawn's ordeal. "Teach the people you love, teach your children to stay away from overhead power lines and the trees that are near them", said Maria. "Treat every power line as if it is live and energized, because you don't want your family to go through what ours has."
"
Shawn Miller has a lot to teach us about electrical safety and we are grateful he is sharing his story through our Teach Learn Care TLC campaign," says
Molly Hall, Executive Director of Safe Electricity. "We want people to learn from his tragic experience and care enough to share it with those they love."
For more information on electrical safety and to learn more about Shawn's compelling story visit
www.SafeElectricity.org. Safe Electricity is an electrical safety public awareness program supported by a coalition of hundreds of organizations, including electric utilities, educators and other entities committed to promoting safe use of electricity.
CONTACT:
Jennifer Richardson
(217) 546-6815
SOURCE Energy Education Council/Safe Electricity Program
