SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As the school year begins for students throughout Northern and Central California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) reminds parents, students and teachers to keep electric and natural gas safety top of mind.

Elementary school students are encouraged to visit PG&E’s Smart Kids website, which features fast-paced games, cool experiments, and classroom and at-home challenges, along with other activities that will entertain while offering important electric and natural gas safety tips.

Parents should discuss these important electric and gas service safety tips with their children to ensure a safe school year:

• Keep a safe distance from power lines, transformers, substations and electric work sites.
• Do not climb power poles or throw objects into power lines.
• Never attempt to retrieve any type of balloon, kite or toy that becomes caught in a power line. Leave it alone, and immediately call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report the problem.
• Never go near a power line that has fallen to the ground or is dangling in the air. Always assume downed electric lines are energized and extremely dangerous. Stay far away, keep others away and immediately call 911 to alert the police and fire departments.
• Make it a priority to create an emergency plan to ensure that all household members know what to do when emergencies occur, including identifying two home escape routes and establishing a location where all family members can reunite after evacuating.
• Never put anything into electrical outlets. Only adults should put safety caps and plugs into electrical outlets.
• Keep electrical cords and appliances away from water and do not touch anything electrical with wet hands.
• Do not play near natural gas appliances or equipment like ovens, water heaters, or furnaces.
• Check to make sure a carbon monoxide detector is installed with fresh batteries, preferably near a sleeping area.
• Remember the three important messages about natural gas: Smell, Leave and Tell!
  • If you smell natural gas in your house, tell an adult. If no adult is home, get everyone out of the house. Do not turn on lights or use the phone. Ask a neighbor for help.
• Be sure that if an adult is planning a digging job at home, large or small, they call 811 at least two working days beforehand.

And safety remains important after the final school bell rings. In order to help prevent injuries, PG&E urges all Pokémon GO players (parents, teachers, and students) to exercise caution and be sure to catch their Pokémon at a safe distance from electric and gas facilities and equipment.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.

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Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company