educational resources for KS3

• what is electricity?
• what do we use it for?
• using electrical energy
• why we need power stations
• generating electricity
• moving electricity around
• electricity networks animation
• spot the danger game
• why electricity can be dangerous
• staying safe around electricity

• If you have any questions about this page, please contact Victoria Richardson: victoria.richardson @ energynetworks.org

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1. Never touch anything electrical with wet hands. Always dry your hands before turning a light on or off, and never use anything electrical, like a mains radio or a hair dryer, in the bathroom. Water makes it easier for electrical current to flow through your body, so if there is anything wrong with the electrical appliance or light switch that you touch, having wet hands increases the chance of you getting a shock.

2. Never use a metal knife or a fork to get toast out of the toaster. Metal, like water, makes it easier for electrical current to flow through your body and once you start prodding electrical equipment with metal you can easily touch something you are not meant to. If the electrical current flows through your body instead of the elements of the toaster the electrical shock that causes could kill you.

3. Never mess about with electrical sockets. Don't stick your fingers, or anything else, into them and don't overload them with too many plugs because it could cause a fire.

4.When you are outside be careful where you play. Never fly a kite near overhead wires because if the kite accidentally touches a wire it could cause the electrical current to flow straight from the wirw through the kite, down the string and into you. That could cause an electrical shock powerful enough to kill you.

5. If your football, Frisbee or other toy goes inside an electricity substation, STAY OUT and ring the number shown on the substation door or under “E” for electricity in the phone book. Your local electricity company will get it back safely for you.

6. If you go fishing make sure you stay at least 30 metres away from any overhead wires. Please take your rod to pieces before moving from one place to another.

7. Never mess about with roadworks, damaged street lights, or be tempted to explore an empty building or building site. Electrical equipment or wiring inside may still be switched on or may have been damaged and left exposed. Even if there are no signs to warn you, never take a chance, just keep away. It is not worth risking your life over a game.