Stay safe and stay clear, is the message

REPRESENTATIVES of ESB Networks have visited Marshalstown National School to promote its ‘Stay Safe, Stay Clear’ Programme and to outline how it will implement the scheme in the school.

The main aim of the programme is to educate primary school children about the potential dangers of electricity. It places a particular emphasis on how to stay safe when playing outdoors near electricity poles and overhead wires.

A nationwide initiative a spokesperson for Marshalstown National School said everyone in the facility is delighted that the scheme will be implemented in there.

‘ The Stay Safe, Stay Clear with ESB Networks education programme is a fun and exciting way for pupils from Junior Infants to 6th Class to discover the benefits of electricity, while also learning how to be safe around it,’ said the spokesperson.

The programme is implemented through lesson plans and various activities which are aimed at providing the necessary information to the children but in a fun way so that the programme is informative, educational and enjoyable.

There are different aspects to the programme including a Stay Safe, Stay Clear poster competition which gives children the opportunity to create a poster depicting what they have learned about keeping safe while around electricity. Through the competition the children will also get to demonstrate their knowledge of ESB Networks’ six safety tips.

Those tips include: Never climb trees near overhead wires; Never fly a kite or drone near overhead wires; Never fish near overhead wires; Never approach a fallen wide [and] tell an adult; Never climb a pylon, and Stay away from places marked with a danger sign.

The school campaign is part of an overall scheme aimed at raising public awareness about the need to exercise caution when outdoors near electrical installations.

In addition to children ESB Networks said that it hopes to get its message out to the general public including farmers and construction workers. A TV advert series has also been rolled out as part of the campaign.

At the ESB Stay Safe Programme for Schools presentation in Marshalstown National School: Billy Quirke and Anthony Kinsella (ESB Networks), Aine Butler (teacher), Keri Doyle-Kinsella, and pupils of the junior infants class.