Electric Wires

Opunake Times, Volume LVV, Issue 3675, 2 November 1923, Page 3

Electric Wires

WARNING TO CHILDREN. We reprint the following from the N Z School Journal in the hope that it may prove a warning to children and the public generally. The blefsings of electricity are nut without danger, but this can be minimised if people are careful. DANGERS OF ELECTRIC WIRES. In both Islands of New Zealand at the present time we find that lakes and rivers are being used to produce electric power. The water is made to descend through great iron pipes to the power houses, and the force of the falling water turns the wheels of the great turbines. Thence the electricity is carried all over the country side by a network of wires.

This electric power is going to be a great boon to our country. It will provide us with a cheap never-fail-ing source of power and light. The great ugly chimney stacks, with their belching columns of soot and smoke, will become things of the past, for instead ot using coal to make steam ,\ye shall sec the machines of the factories in motion by turning on a switch that will provide them with electric power.

We have only a few hydroelectric plants working in New Zealand to-day, but in the next five or six years we shall see a big advance. Already the overhead wires are being erected in readiness for the completion of the works.

We must remember, however, that though this new going to be of great benefit it has certain real dangers. We are all aware that many fatal accidents have ,been caused by people coming in contact with “live “ wires, while other people have been very badly burned.

Certain substances allow the electric current to flow very readily through them, and they are known as conductors. Examples of such substances are copper wire, most metals, water, and our own bodies. Other things, such as glass, indiarubber, and porcelain, do not allow the current to flow through tham, and so they are used to prevent any leakage from the telegraph and highpower wires that we see erected all over the country. While the human body is a good conductor, yet a strong current cannot pass through without much harm being done. A weak current will produce what is called “pins and needles '*; a stronger will cause severe burns ; while a very strong current will cause instant death. n lh all districts where the overhead electric-power wires have been erected cbidren should be very care ful to avoid touching any of these wires. The post will probably be marked “Danger, Live Wires “ or by skud and cross-bones, or by some such warning | but in any case no wire that may belyingon the ground or hanging from a pole should be touched. We cannot tell by looking at the wire whether it is charged or not, so that the safest plan is lo leave it aloue.

Some time ago a boy, while playing in the streets of Dunedin, caught hold of a wire that had fallen from a pole. No doubt it seemed to him quite harmless, hut he was instantly killed. Another bay in Dunedin was swinging on a flagpole, and in swinging round the pole touched ano'her wire that was carrying a strong current, and he, too, was instantly killed. Many of these sad accidents would not have happened if only people had knoWn of these dangers. In soma cases they are due to ihoughtless acts. A schoolboy in Te Aroha climbed on to the roof of a building and touched a wire that passed over it. This happened to be a highpower wire, and he was killed at once. Another boy in Christchurch, climbed up on top of a washhouse and touched the electric wire that came into the house. It happened that this wire was not carrying a strong current, but he was very badly burned. Had the current been a little stronger he would have been killed.

Another child in Hawera, finding the door unlocked, wandered into a building where there were electric wires. He touched a “hve“ wire and the shock killed him at once Another schoolboy hi Taranaki, perhaps to show his skill in climbing, climbed up a pole carrying electric wires, touched one, and fell dead on the spot. Even the posts may be,dangerous. A farmer in the Havvera district, on going out into the paddock, found his-bull dead. There was a leakage of current down a pole, which was made of steel, and one of the wires of the fence vvas touching it. t The fence thus became charged, and when the bull rubbed against it lie received a shock that killed him in stantly. Cases have been known where persons carrying a piece of . metal piping have made contact with the overhead wires and so been killed. There are also other cases where the current has not been strong enough to cause death, but the burns have been so severe that the doctors have had‘to cut off hands or arms to save life • Enough has now beep said gto show how great is the danger connected with these wires, and a few rules have been drawn up which all children should remember.

(1) Do not touch any wire that has fallen or is hanging from a pole. (2) Do not climb any poles or towers carrying electric wires.

(3* Do not climb frees through which electric wires pass. ihme may be a leakage of current between ( he wires and the tree. In Canterbury there is a tree whose leaves have all been burned by a leakage of current from the wires passing through it. (4 ) Do not touch or shake stiywires on electric poles. The substances used to prevent leakage may have become “tired, “ <and in that case they will not do their work perfectly. (5I Do not-throw stones or fire pea-rfles at the white “cups “ which, being made of porcelain, prevent the leakage of current down the pole. There is also the risk that when its support is broken the wire will fall to the ground. It is surprising how many of these “cups, “ for telegraph and other electric wires, are broken each year by thoughtless and mischievous boys. Some time ago a person, taken very ill in the country, tried to call the doctor by telephone, but as some boy had broken a “cup “ by throwing stones at it no message could pass along the wire, and by the time the doctor was brought the patient was dead.

(6) Do not stand below men work ing on poles carrying overhead wires. If a wire should tab it may strike you, with fatal results. The men working onjthepoles use rubber gloves and are protected ; but you are not.

(7) Do nor flv kites where there are overhead wires If the string is damp and the kits or its tail makes contact with the wires the current will pass down the string to your body. Kites.often become entangled in the wires in fine v.’eather, and when rain comes they cause much danger.

18) If you see a broken wire on the ground, do not touch it, but report it to the nearest policeman or other person you may find. (g) If a fatal accident has happened, do not try to remove the body from the wires, or you, too, will receive a fatal shock.

(10, Keep away from all towers and bui'dings that hold or contain electric wires or machines. All wires to be seen on the street poles carry a very strong current, and certain death will result if they are touched.

(n) Remember to set a good example by protecting others as well as yourself, do not allow them to do anything that will cause them much harm, perhaps death itself.