BY JULIE STROHMEIER

College is the time where teens get a taste of what independence truly is. They are miles away from their parents who can’t tell them what to do and when to do it. That’s why it’s important to teach them important safety lesson ahead of time; electrical safety included.

No matter what their students’ ages are, parents or other adults should share these electrical safety lessons with their children. They could potentially save their lives.

“One of our core principles is commitment to community. That includes educating our members about electrical safety,” said Tom Van Paris, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives.

Here are some electrical safety lessons parents can share with their upcoming undergraduates:

• Don’t overload electrical outlets. Most dorms or campus housing are not equipped to handle today’s use of electronic appliances and gadgets.

• Keep all electrical appliances and cords away from bedding, curtains and other flammable materials.

• Extension cords are only for temporary use and can become overloaded. Consider using power strips with an over-current protector that shuts off power automatically if too much current is being drawn.

Julie Strohmeier is an intern with Electric Consumer.