Parents are cautioned: talk to children about copying scenes from a new summer movie. Kids and parents know that movies aren’t "real life." However, some movie plots seem appealing and may inspire dangerous activity. Twentieth Century Fox’s new summer kids’ movie "Like Mike," set to release early in July, shows a youth climbing a tree, grabbing shoes off a power line and being struck by lightning, giving him new-found NBA-quality super powers.

This sort of behavior — in real life — is extremely dangerous, even fatal.

All of us at Northwestern REC are very concerned about the message this film could send to children. Contact with power lines is extremely dangerous. We work very hard throughout the year to teach children to stay away from power lines, and to be aware of the potential for danger.

Included in Northwestern REC’s efforts are special presentations to school children and community organizations.

All this work can be undermined in an instant if children think they’ll get ‘super strengths’ from contacting power lines. We encourage parents to be aware of what their children are watching and to take the opportunity to reinforce safe habits through family discussions.

Northwestern REC recommends the following tips for staying safe near power equipment:

• Assume all lines are energized and carrying electricity.
• Stay away from any fallen utility lines or broken poles.
• Never climb a power pole or other electrical equipment.
• Look up and stay aware of the location of overhead power lines to avoid making contact with them.
• Check trees for overhead wires running near or through limbs and branches before climbing. If lines are present, do not climb the tree for any reason.
• If you see others climbing or playing around power equipment, urge them to move away.
• Keep all kites and other objects away from overhead power lines. If a kite does become tangled in electrical wires, make no attempt to remove it!

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