Outdoor Summer Safety

Next time someone tells you to "go fly a kite," read this before doing so!

This week in 1752, Benjamin Franklin flew his kite in a rainstorm. He discovered electricity when the kite was struck by lightning. Today, almost 250 years later, he wouldn't need a rainstorm for this discovery. If he flew his kite in certain back yards, he'd get the shock of his life when it made contact with the high-voltage overhead power. In fact, he wouldn't need a kite at all, if he climbed a tree near these lines or dug a hole into a buried cable carrying electricity under the ground. In Franklin's day, everything was clear and open; he had to go looking for electricity. Today, high-voltage danger lurks all around us, overhead, underground and in stormy skies. So, in summer think backyard safety when using metal ladders and trimming trees. Be careful; electricity passes through metal tools and simple cotton kite strings to shock you. It can even travel through dry soil. As you spend more time outdoors gardening, working on the house and flying kites, remember to avoid power lines. And that's the On The House tip for today.

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