Safety Tips

Storm Preparedness Tips
Be sure to keep these items on-hand and easily accessible:

• Flashlights and fresh batteries, candles or other illumination
• A battery-powered radio and/or television. GLE works with the news media to provide frequent updates about major outages
• A battery-powered or wind-up clock
• Emergency telephone numbers including the number to report an outage to Great Lakes Energy, 1-888-GT-LAKES (1-888-485-2537) or 1-800-678-0411
• A corded telephone. Cordless phones will not work when your power is out
• Have your account number ready and available

Safety Tips

• Stay away from power lines. They are bare wires and not insulated. Downed power lines may appear to be harmless, but could be live.
• If a person or object is in contact with a power line, don’t touch the person, object or line. The electric current could flow through you. Call 911 and GLE immediately!
• If your vehicle is in contact with a power line, stay inside the car. Warn others not to touch the car or the power line.
• If you must leave your vehicle, jump clear to avoid being in contact with the car and the ground at the same time and then roll away from the car.

Summer Outage Tips

• Close drapes and blinds on the sunny side of your home.
• During the day, go to an air-conditioned building such as a library or shopping mall.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored loose clothing. They reflect heat and sunlight.
• Drink plenty of cool liquids even if you don’t feel thirsty.
• Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day.
• Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
• Eat light. Avoid hot, heavy meals and opt for foods high in water content such as fruits, salads and soups.
• Take baths and showers. Because water conducts heat away from the body, bathing in tepid water is a good cooling technique.
• During an outage, turn off appliances that use lots of energy such as air conditioners.  Wait until the power is restored and then turn the unit back on.
• Keep the doors of your refrigerator and freezer shut to keep the cold in.

Winter Outage Tips

• Gather in a central room where there is an alternative heat source such as a fireplace.
• During the day, open your blinds to let the sun warm the space.
• At night, cover windows with drapes or blankets to minimize heat loss.
• Dress in loose layers of clothing.
• If the indoor temperature drops to 55 degrees F or below, open faucets slightly so they constantly drip to prevent water pipes from freezing.
• If candles and portable heaters are used, watch children and small animals that could knock them over. Never leave these unattended.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can increase the loss of body heat and risk of hypothermia.
• Never use a gas range for room heating.
• Never use charcoal as an indoor heating or cooking source.
• Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids to start or quicken a fire. Always keep a screen around an open flame, and don’t close the damper while ashes are still hot.
• Remember, a fuel-burning heater, such as a kerosene heater, requires proper ventilation to prevent buildup of harmful fumes.
• Place heaters on a hard, non-combustible surface.

Generator Safety Tips

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper usage of a portable generator.
• Operate the generator outdoors to avoid deadly fumes accumulating in the house.
• When using a portable generator, plug appliances directly into the generator, or have the generator properly attached to your home’s wiring by a qualified electrician. The electrician should install a special transfer switch as required by the National Electrical Code. The switch will ensure that electricity from the generator won’t back feed into electric lines or endanger line workers and others.
• Never connect a portable generator to your home’s main electrical panel; never plug it into an electrical outlet of your home.
• A dealer in generators or an electrician should be able to help you select the size of generator you need.
• Before connecting the generator to your household circuit, contact Great Lakes Energy.
• For more tips and information, click here.
• Read the Electrical Safety Institute’s brochure for more safety information.