Summer starts with safety: Daviess-Martin County REMC delivers fun, hands-on power line safety demos
Summer is in full swing, and students from area schools are enjoying their time away from classes. Whether biking or fishing at West Boggs Park or spending time at the municipal pools in Loogootee and Washington, they are likely to encounter electrical infrastructure, which makes it important that they understand the real dangers associated with electricity.
That’s why, before classes ended for the 2025–2026 school year, Daviess-Martin County REMC (DMREMC) was invited to share power line safety information with students at a local elementary school and at an educational camp.
The first stop was Barr-Reeve Community Schools, where journeyman linemen Jarrett Arvin and apprentice lineman Jeremy Maddox spoke with a group of second-grade students about basic power line safety. Both emphasized the importance of staying aware of their surroundings, including what is above and below them while playing outside.
The tabletop demonstration featured a series of real-world scenarios illustrating what can happen when someone encounters a live power line. Examples included downed poles caused by fallen trees, kites becoming entangled in power lines, and the dangers of digging near underground utilities.
Students remained highly engaged throughout the presentation, especially when viewing live electrical arcing safely performed by DMREMC-trained professionals.
The following week, journeyman linemen Dwain Jolliff and Tyler Bostock visited a group of young men during the Ebenezer Boys Camp at Camp Illiana. These students had spent part of their time at camp learning basic electrical concepts, which were reinforced through the safety demonstration.
The campers asked many thoughtful questions, creating a highly engaging learning environment for everyone involved. Questions ranged from utility location procedures to what it takes to pursue a career as a lineman.
By connecting real-world demonstrations with hands-on learning, DMREMC continues to reinforce the importance of electrical safety and help students build awareness that can last well beyond the summer months.