Elizabethton Electric has been performing a Public Awareness Safety Training event for the past week.

The goal has been to encourage more caution and safety when responders reach emergencies with high voltage.

“There’s a trailer that comes through Tennessee and we decided to bring it in and put on this class for public awareness of safety really, and how each department will work together,” said Tammy Oxendine, administrative assistant for Elizabethton Electric.

Those in attendance throughout the week have been city street departments, city fire departments, police, EMS and volunteer fire departments.

Once the event began, glasses and earplugs were provided. Safety director, Larry Shell, narrated the event in between scenarios and provided the audience with information, while trained linemen demonstrated. Once they said, “trailer hot” it was time for glasses and or/earplugs to go on. During the demonstrations, real voltages were used and actual flames could be seen. Likewise, sounds and smells also came from the objects as well.

The safety training demonstration involved real-life scenarios like animals on power lines causing a circuit to short, current to objects such as tree limbs, approaching a car with lines down, how items are energized with live voltage and more. Some of these were also geared toward civilians with things like generators, ladder usage and digging holes on your property without calling 811 to have someone come check for underground lines first. Throughout the demonstration, linemen also spoke with examples and stories of why such precaution was important when working near high voltages.

“Our job is dangerous, your job is dangerous,” said Billy Olson, one of the linemen. “Just be aware of your surroundings.”

While speaking, Olson stressed the difficulties of all the jobs, commending those who volunteer, and said the goal for the event was really about making people think when coming onto emergencies without becoming a victim themselves.

After the demonstrations ceased, the audience was welcomed to ask questions, and linemen also shared some of the questions guests earlier in the week had shared.

A round of applause filled the room as the event came to a close and the questions ceased.

“All we want you to do is use your head and be aware of your surroundings,” said Olson.