Johnnygeo's Geocaching Electrical Safety Blog

Geocaching In, On and Around Electrical Equipment

2008-05-01T21:57:00.020-06:00

DISCLAIMER

Updated July 01, 2008

Are you a geocacher(LINK) that sometimes caches in, on or around green power boxes, lamp post caches (LPC's), electrical transmission tower legs and sometimes even FAKE electrical boxes/equipment?

If you do, I feel you may be placing yourself and possibly others in an unsafe situation.

It is that added risk that should not be in our hobby.

Before I give you my opinion on the subject and explain to why I know it's unsafe, I want to thank you for stopping by and I want to share two sides of me.

First off, I’m a geocacher. Love the hobby.
I've been caching since early 2005. I'm fortunate to say I've cached from coast to coast, as far South as Mexico and over seas. I've hidden over 30 caches and have over 900 finds. Some of my favorite caches are in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia(love the Island), Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and throughout the UK. I enjoy caching because it takes me to places where a travel guide or tour booklet may of never taken me.
I'm proud to say some of my best friends are also geocachers.

Second, I’m also a Health and Safety Consultant for a large power utility company.
One of my job duties is to respond and investigate powerline contacts. When someone from the general public contacts an overhead powerline or digs and hits an underground high voltage power cable I’ll be on the scene to conduct a full investigation. An electrical contact fatality is the most difficult type of investigation to conduct. I’ve seen the first hand results of what electricity can do to the human body and it’s not pretty.

I read about geocachers from all across North America hiding caches on High Voltage transmission tower legs, magnetic key holder caches tucked away on those green power boxes in the neighborhoods(padmount transformers), under skirts of lamp posts and I also read about those cachers that create fake electrical boxes to hide caches in. ALL that stuff scares me. Yes, even fake electrical boxes... I'll explain.
Children tend to stick their hands in any where and if a child can open a cover to something they’ll do it cause they’re curious. They also learn what's safe by watching adults. If we teach kids that it’s okay to open up fake electrical boxes because caches are hidden in them, then I feel that we are placing them in danger. If that child comes across real electrical equipment that was left open because it was vandalized, would they know to stay away from it? I would say no. Would you stay away from it? Do you know the difference between real and fake electrical equipment? I've seen some very realistic stuff out there.
It’s not okay for children(and adults for that matter) to get-use-to playing around electrical equipment.

Kids are always playing on those green power boxes. Are they meant for playing on? The answer is no. Take a look at some of the labels on that green box. Look familiar.
Generally those boxes are safe. (Again, that does not mean kids should play on it) but the question comes up… Could they be unsafe? The answer is a definite yes. Cars hit this type of equipment all the time by drivers (possibly drunk) and they’re not reported right-away. They can be sitting there with their metal case energized. As soon as a person touches a piece of equipment in that state they would be electrocuted.
Vandals that destroy equipment just for the fun of it or because of copper theft leave this equipment in very dangerous shape as well.
Also, a city can have the best electrical maintenance program in the world and still have the odd piece of equipment fail. This could be a green electrical box in front of your house or a lamp post.

Take a look at this… link

I enjoy the question that comes from others, "there's risk in everything we do, why should this type of risk matter?" I agree, there is risk in everything we do (driving, walking on a sidewalk, reaching into a hole to pull out a cache), but do we need to add this risk (electrical) to geocaching? Let's talk about probability and severity. What's the chance that a piece of electrical equipment will fail? (Probability) Low? Okay, I could agree with that.

Let's say it failed. What is the consequence when a person touches a failed piece of electrical equipment and gives electricity that path to ground? I know from experience that there's usually no second chance.

There's no need to jeopardize yourself and others to this added risk.

Another thing to think about… In www.geocaching.com guidelines there’s a line that states, “By submitting a cache listing, you assure us that you have adequate permission to hide your cache in the selected location.”
I don’t know of any power utilities or municipalities that would give permission to hide a game-piece in or on their electrical equipment. Just would not happen.

I write this Blog so everyone’s aware of the dangers and possible dangers.
I'd like to know that if a dangerous situation appears before a geocacher they will know how to properly react to it. Please refer to some of my other posts below(i.e. power line down on the ground, lightning, etc)

In this Blog these are my opinions that are influenced from what I’ve seen doing my job, being in the electrical industry for almost 20 years and reading through countless articles and reports that come in from all across North America on people getting injured and killed by electricity.

I don't want to come-off as telling people what or what not to do.
Although, I will ASK you of two things.
(1)I’m asking you here and in other spots in the Blog not to geocache in or on electrical equipment. There are so many other places we can hide our caches.
(2)I’m also asking you to take read through the info below this post and hopefully you’ll carry something away with you that’s important, not only for geocaching but for other hobbies that you do as well. If you have children, please quiz them to see how well they know the dangers on electricity and guide them how to stay safe.

If, by writing this Blog, one person is prevented from getting injured then I know I've done my job.

Thank you for visiting,

Johnnygeo

(Please email me to tell me what you think of the Blog @ johnnygeo@gmail.com or comment here at the bottom of this post. I look forward in hearing from you.

LPC's... Not just a "Lame" Factor

2008-01-28T23:37:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer

(a cacher being comical... Haha)

Are Lamp Posts Caches (LPC's) beginning to get a bit lame?

Lame because there's a lot of them?? Lame because they're too easy???

Besides the "lame" factor, scroll down in this blog and find out why it's dangerous to hide caches on lamp posts and other types of electrical equipment.

I thank you for visiting,

Johnnygeo

A VERY DANGEROUS Lamp Post Cache

2008-01-22T18:26:00.002-07:00

Disclaimer

A fellow cacher just shared this picture with us in a forum as an example of what's out there... (I believe this one is now archived)

The picture above scares me much more than a micro placed under the skirt of a lamp post. (not saying that a micro attached under a LPC's skirt is a smart choice, by any means) but this one is much more serious.

This cache is located INSIDE the lamp post.

This is an example of one of the worst, most dangerous types of geocaches that a person could ever hide.

All a person needs to do to receive a severe electrical shock is reach inside the post and contact energized bare lugs and/or the energized wire.

This is an accident waiting to happen.

Not all people know that a large amount of the time the wires in these posts are live, even in the daylight hours. A photo-cell, located on the top of a lamp post is normally what turns the light on and off.
The caps that protect the energized lugs are not always on all the way leaving energized lugs/wires at the opening exposed. Some lugs are attached to the inside wall of the post without any fixed insulation.

If any of you ever come across a cache like the one above please contact a Geocache.com reviewer ASAP to report this imminent danger and to have it archived.
Also, please contact your local power utility company about the issue so they can tighten the cover on properly.

This is not what geocaching is all about.

Johnnygeo

Lamp Post Caches (LPC's), Are They Safe?

2008-01-20T21:23:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer

(updated Jan.23/08)
Lamp Post Caches, are they safe?

At the end of this post I want you to answer the question... Please take a read...

***In this post I'm refering to the type of lamp post cache that a person needs to lift a skirt or cover to grab the cache. This cover usually protects the bolts of a post and most of the time, but not all, there are no wires exposed. I am NOT talking about a lamp post cache where a cacher would hide a micro inside the opening of the lamp post beside energized wiring. A cache placed inside the opening of a lamp post is a very serious safety concern and should NEVER be created. If a cache is found inside a lamp post, please contact a Geocache.com reviewer to have the cache archived and the local utility company to close the lamp post opening properly.***

Now... let's talk about a micro under a skirt of a LPC...

I "Googled" Lamp Post Caches on my computer and came up with a lot of hits on the subject. I read how they're lame because they're so boring after finding 10 of them in a row. I read that they're on private property and that a cacher needs permission before they hide a cache in the lamp post. I read that a lamp post cache caused a bomb threat.

All of these concerns are valid but from a safety perspective I think we're missing the boat. There needs to be more thought on how a lamp posts electrical equipment fails. It's happening way too much to say.. Ahhh, that never happens...

Remember, everytime you lift a lamp post cover to find a cache, you're trusting that the lampost wiring has not failed from old age or has not been vandelized before you got there.

As I've said in the past, a city, town, etc can have the best electrical maintenance program in the world, and still, the power equipment can fail, like anything else.

For a handful of you that may be asking yourself, "I haven't heard of anyone getting killed by geocaching by a lampost", you're right, and I hope that knowbody ever does. BUT people doing other hobbies, walking their dog, playing around lamposts and other types of electrical equipment are getting killed.

Here's some proof on what's going on "out there". (please click on the link for the full story)

(1)... The electrified spots were discovered during emergency inspections prompted by Ms. Lane's death...Manhattan had 53 electrified manholes and service-box covers, and 30 charged lampposts. The Bronx had 6 electrified manhole and service-box covers and 25 charged lampposts. READ LINK

(2) The downtown electrocution of a 9-year-old boy was caused by the failure of the insulation in a 480-volt wire in the base of a light post, according to a report from investigators. READ LINK

(3)An ungrounded light pole is being eyed as the possible cause of death of a 9-year-old girl at a self-serve carwash Monday evening, a city official said Wednesday.
(YOU NEED TO SCROLL DOWN A BIT TO FIND THE STORY) READ LINK

These are just a small hand full of incidents that are occuring out there.

Lamp posts are meant to be safe because they're out in the general public but as you have just read, that's not always the case. Lamp posts are meant to give light to an area and to be left alone... not to be played on or in.
Also, if we teach our children it's okay to lift up covers to this equipment, will they know what not to enter when they're alone? Probably NOT. READ LINK
Let's not have our kids get-used-to playing around this equipment.

There are so many other places we can hide and find geocaches, let's stay away from electrical equipment.

So, are LPC's safe?

Thanks for stopping by,

Johnnygeo

DISCLAIMER

2008-01-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER

The content of this Blog consists of my own personal opinions and does not express those of my employer(s), past or current.

My intention is to do no harm and to be in good faith without malicious intent. To not injure others, defame, or libel. This is my opinion and advice, not counsel, and what I write in this Blog is not to be taken as fact nor absolute. If people use my advice, tips, techniques, and recommendations, and are injured, I am not to be held responsible.

My thoughts and opinions change from time to time as I come to learn more and develop an understanding about the subjects and issues that I’m blogging about. This blog just provides a snapshot of my thoughts and opinions and may change over a period of time. I reserve the right to evolve my knowledge, thoughts, and viewpoints over time and to change them without assigning any reason.

My Blog contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other people and organizations. These links provide additional information that may be useful or interesting and are being provided consistent with Johnnygeo's Geocaching Electrical Safety Blog. I do not control or guarantee the accuracy, availability, relevance, timeliness, "family-friendliness" or completeness of this outside information. Listing here should not be interpreted as endorsement by this Blog. Please use your own discretion when surfing the web.

Information in this Blog may contain errors or inaccuracies; I do not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of this Blog's content.

If you own rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear in this Blog, please contact me via e-mail @ johnnygeo@gmail.com and they will be promptly removed.

I am not to be responsible for translation or interpretation of content, and will not be subject to prosecution for any misinterpretation of my statements due to bad grammar or punctuation.

The comments are moderated. Comments will appear if and when I approve them.

If legal action is brought against this Blog, the cap limit on the financial responsibility will be limited to $100.

SHOULD THE READER NOT AGREE TO THE PROVISIONS STATED ABOVE, YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY IS TO DISCONTINUE YOUR USE OF THIS BLOG IMMEDIATELY.

CITO Safety

2007-03-26T22:47:00.001-06:00

DISCLAIMER

This post is a little different than my normal electrical safety rant but you'll still enjoy it...

Are you ready to help out this year in a Geocaching CITO (Cache In Trash Out)? Good job! Here's some information I want to share with you before you go out grabbing for garbage to clean up a special area.

Keep your eyes open for used needles.

HIV, Hepatitis B and C are diseases that are carried in the blood. These diseases aren’t spread through everyday contact. If needles are shared, individuals are exposed to the blood of another person. If a person is infected with hepatitis B or C or HIV, there’s a risk of the disease being spread.

Accidentally being pricked by a used needle may spread a disease to the individual.

Occasionally, needles are found in places where children play such as parks and school yards. When this happens, it’s important that the needle is safely collected and disposed of by an adult.

In last years Edmonton CITO we found a needle in the city park. Luckily we had a pre-CITO speach for kids on used needle safety.

Teach children these simple rules:

• If you find a needle don’t touch it!

• Tell an adult where you found the needle.

• If you are hurt by a needle, tell an adult. You will need to see a doctor right away.

What is the correct way to collect and dispose of a used needle?

• FOR ADULTS, Pick the needle up carefully –
don’t touch it with your bare hands. If you have gloves, wear them, or use a heavy cloth. If tongs are available, use them to pick up the needle.

• Hold the needle tip away from you. Be careful not to prick yourself.

• Place the needle with the tip downward in a can or plastic container with a lid. Seal securely.

• Call or bring the container to the health unit. Or, take the container to the police, hospital, emergency department, or a hazardous waste disposal site near you.

Always look to see what you're grabbing at and use a good pair of work gloves.

Making a CITO "pokey" stick to pick up garbage is safer yet. Safe against needles, glass and easy on your lower back.

It's easy to build a CITO "pokey" stick.

Find an old wooden broom stick, a couple hose clamps and a long nail. Once you attach the nail to the wooden broom stick with the hose clamps you may want to reinforce with duct tape.
Please teach children how to use these sticks safely. (not swinging them around and always keeping the point down)

You may be bending down occasionally around sharp tree branches, etc and handling a garbage pick-up pokey stick so you may want to wear a pair of safety glasses.

Will you be cleaning up near a roadway?

You may want to consider getting some reflective safety vests.

The more visible you are, the safer you are.

It's a good idea to wear a pair of boots with ankle support.

Don't forget to bring a bottle of water to keep hydrated.

As an event organizer it's a good idea to have a First Aid Kit on site.

There may be other hazards at your CITO that have not been addressed in this post so please address those hazards with proper controls before you start your event.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Enjoy your CITO and please keep safe,

Johnnygeo

(Ref. www.norwestchc.org needle safety )

Copper Theft, What's the Danger To Us?

2007-03-18T10:03:00.000-06:00

DISCLAIMER

Geocaching Electrical Safety

Let me explain yet another reason why you should not hide geocaches on power utility equipment (ie, power and lighting poles, transformers, switching cubicles, streetlight cabinets, etc.)

A recent rise in the worldwide price of copper has sparked a massive demand for the metal and led to a dramatic increase in the number of copper-related thefts across North America and the other continents.

Try typing “copper theft” in Google. You’ll come up with 1,060,000 results.
Thieves are stealing copper wire from many sources.(ie, church roof thefts(link), plumbing pipe, wire) This includes copper wire from power companies. Copper wire has been stolen from substations, fallen wire and equipment from poles after storms, and the copper "ground wire" in power boxes just like the boxes that may be in your front yard. A lot of these thieves have been killed in the process. Link

The “ground wire” electrically connects equipment to the ground to protect the general public and employees who work on the equipment. ie, If a power box has an internal wire come loose and the wire touches the inside of the metal box, electricity will run from that box through a copper “ground wire” to the ground.Thieves are stealing these "ground wires", taking them to scrap yards for cash.

**Remember, when the “ground wire” has been stolen and/or the electrical equipment has been tampered with, a hazard may exist when a person touches the electrical equipment. The person who touches it may be the path to ground for electricity and may be electrically shocked.**

Power Utilities everywhere are very concerned about this situation. Please read these links...

Link 1
Link 2

Please do not to try to hide or find geocaches on electrical equipment. There are so many other places we can hide our caches.

Thanks for listening,

Johnnygeo

Geocaching Electrical Safety No-No's

2007-02-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER

(updated Jan.23/08)
Here are some examples of where you should NOT hide geocaches because of the danger of electricity.

Power transmission tower legs are private property and are not meant for anyone to hide geocaches on them.

Please don't hide geocaches on power boxes. The outside of the box is usually safe but is not meant to be played on. Like everything else, equipment does fail and you do not want to be anywhere around this equipment when it does fail.
Also, never open an electrical box, of any kind. If you find an electrical box open please contact the local power utility immediatly. Again, this is private property and hiding a geocache on this type of equipment without permission is going against the Geocaching.com guidelines. I don't know of a power utility company that would okay a game piece on any of their electrical equipment.

Stay away from outdoor metering equipment. My issue here is that I don't want kids getting comfortable playing around electrical equipment. (ie... a cover/lid is left open by a vandel and a kid reaches into an energized panel because they're "used to" this equipment and gets fatally shocked.)Also, this equipments fails as well.

How about placing a micro under a lamp post skirt? Do you think that's safe? Electrical street lighting can fail just like all the other equipment. It's not a smart place to geocache.(link)

A geocache placed inside the opening of a lamp post is a very serious safety concern and should NEVER be created. This type really scares me because of the live electrical wiring that's just inside the opening. There is a high risk of a severe electrical shock with this type of scenario. If a cache is found inside a lamp post, please contact a Geocache.com reviewer to have the cache archived and the local utility company to close the lamp post opening properly.

Never enter a substation. They're extremely dangerous.

***Remember, you can't always hear, see or smell electricity. It's an invisable DANGER.***

If you feel a geocache is placed in a dangerous location, please contact the cache owner. If you get no response from the cache owner then email a Geocach.com Admin who approve's caches.
I've had many people email me saying that they had a bunch of caches archived because of an electrical danger.

I believe geocaching was meant more for the woods and safe urban settings, not power equipment.
We have so many other places we can hide our geocaches. Let's stay away from electrical equipment.

Thanks for visiting my blog and feel free to add comments,

Johnnygeo

Overhead Danger

2006-12-31T04:08:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER

Overhead Danger, Geocaching Electrical Safety

An Ohio teen was killed December 19, 2006 by not knowing the danger of overhead power lines. He tried to retrieve a dog leash off a power line with a long branch and was electrocuted.

Please stay away from overhead power lines. Electricity in those lines will take any path possible to "go to ground". Don't you be the path.

You should NEVER play around power lines. This includes climbing trees near power lines (the assumption being that a cache may be hidden up off the ground in a tree), throwing any objects into them or flying kites around them. Electricity in those lines are many thousands of volts. Electricity will travel down a kite string, through you to get to the ground.(link)

I conduct demo's for schools and contractors using kite string. We energize a demo board with approximately 4000 volts and place kite sting across the energized demo power line to a grounded point. This kite string burns immediatly from electricity running though it. Please don't use metal laced kite string. Metal laced is used for the extra durability. Metal laced kite string is much more dangerous because in conducts electricity much easier.

We also place tree branches in the demo board.
There are still a lot of people who don't know that electricity will travel across tree branches and wooden 2 by 4's when there's a high enough voltage. Power lines have that dangerous voltage.

If you see an object caught up in a power line please contact your local power utility to have them remove it.

*Also, do you remember the incident regarding the Scouts setting up a tent under power lines? (link)

Years ago, before the safety field, one of my job tasks was to work on power lines (that's me below). It takes years of training and experience, special tools and equipment and a constant respect of this invisable energy to work safely on or around these lines.

Next time you're outdoors setting up equipment, etc... remember this important safety slogan... Look up and live.

Play safe out there,

Johnnygeo

Downed Power Lines

2006-11-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER

(updated Jan.20/08)
You're out on the trails Geocaching and come across a downed power line... What do you do?

-Stay back at least 30 feet (10 meters) from a downed power line and anything it's near. Power lines don't always spark or jump like in the movies. A downed line may have no signs that it is energized.

-Call 911 for help.

-Make others in the area aware that there is a dangerous downed power line on the ground and that they should away from it as far as they can.

When a line(wire)is laying on the ground, electricity travels from that wire into the ground and energizes a large portion of the ground. This dangerous effect is called "Step Potential". This is why you need to stay away as far as you can because this effect can kill.
Step Potential is like when you throw a rock into a pond, you see ripple of waves get smaller and smaller from the rocks's entry... electricity is the same, where the wire is touching the ground, ripples or waves of electricity are getting less and less powerful.

Also remember, when Geocaching, keep your eyes open on the trails for all types of hazards. (holes, steep cliffs, wildlife, etc)

Stay alert and play safe,

Johnnygeo

Resources: www.epcor.ca)

Cord Safety at Home, Geocaching Electrical Safety

2006-11-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER

Let me talk to you a little about fire prevention. The next time you’re at home on the computer looking at Geocaching.com, take a look at the electrical cords and plug-ins around your computer.

-Do the cords look damaged in any way? A damaged electrical cord can cause a short resulting in an injury or a fire. Look for cracks, breaks, nicks, separated wiring, frayed, and any other questionable conditions.

If you find a damaged cord, please replace it immediately. Seriously… get down and take a look.

-Never overload a socket. In particular, the use of "octopus" outlets, outlet extensions that accommodate several plugs, is strongly discouraged. (picture seen at the top) These devices may heat up when overloaded and may cause a fire.

Use a rated Power-bar that is designed for multiple plug-ins. (seen just below)

-Check periodically for loose wall receptacles. If the box is moving around in the wall whenever you plug and unplug a cord have an electrician tighten it up for you.

-Cords ran under furniture or rugs/carpet/mats may overheat or become damaged.

-Do not remove the ground prong of a three-prong plug. Electrical equipment with a three-prong plug requires a three-hole receptacle. That ground prong is protecting your life.

- When using extension cords, place them so that they do not lie in a traffic area (tripping hazards) or through doors which may be closed and cut the cord.

Christmas time is coming near and these safety rules apply to indoor Christmas tree lighting as well…

So what are you waiting for? Get down and take a look.

Take care,

Johnnygeo

Hypothermia by Bush Creatures, Guest Article

2006-11-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER

HYPOTHERMIA Guest Article by Bush Creatures

Bush Dad is the senior member of the Bush Creatures caching team. He is a long-time employee of a provincial fish and wildlife agency in Canada, worked as provincial boating officer, enforced boating safety regulations and has received training in cold water survival, ice travel and rescue and wilderness survival. He has, unfortunately, participated in body recoveries after boating accidents and has been involved in some major wrecks of his own before smartening up. The junior member of the Bush Creatures (thirteen year old Bush Girl) thinks her dad is a nag on wilderness safety and hypothermia but has learned that her dad doesn’t mess around, particularly when it comes to traveling with precious cargo.

October 30 on a northern lake. There had been a skim of ice on the water when we put the boat in to travel about a kilometer to our favorite duck hunting island. Our island was well sheltered from the rising wind by a larger island and it was a good day. By 5:00 p.m., we were chilled and tired and hungry and it was time to head back to the camp. Boat was heavy as we also had the decoys and blinds that we had taken out the evening before. Lake was choppy with a lot of spray. We passed the big island and turned into the wind for the 500 m ride back to the camp.
Three large waves later and we were swimming beside a swamped boat and grabbing for the life jackets we should have been wearing. It was fine, nobody panicked, the boat had enough floatation to hang on to in spite of our heavy clothes until we grabbed for the life-jackets floating beside us and got them on. Nobody drowned so this would be another story to laugh about. Unfortunately, the story goes on. Half an hour later as we were blown to the far shore, I was completely incapable of a rational thought, violent shivering had me unable to handle the minimal survival gear we had with us and it would have felt great just to close my eyes, let go of the swamped boat and die. I had just met up with hypothermia.

Hypothermia is generally defined as a lowering of body temperature below 35C or 95F. By the time the body core cools to below about 32C or 90F, consciousness is affected and when the core temperature cools to below 30C or 86F, you die. Hypothermia is not particularly painful as the brain is shutting down at the same time as the body is. In fact, most victims will not realize they are suffering from hypothermia. In cold water, a victim can become hypothermic in under 30 minutes and will die in under 90 minutes. On land, the process of hypothermia typically takes longer. One set of government statistics indicate that approximately 140 Canadians and 800 Americans die from hypothermia each year. However, these stats could be considerably low if there was a way to determine how many drowning victims drowned after loosing consciousness because of hypothermia or how many land victims, particularly in wilderness settings, met with fatal accidents because of a loss of capability due to hypothermia.

Even though the lake we were on was near freezing, the adrenaline rush of hitting the water made any shock from the cold water pass quickly. In fact, all those swimming lessons came back at me and, after kicking my rubber boots off, I swam quite easily in heavy clothes and put on one of the life jackets floating nearby and then pitched a couple more over to my friends. At that point I was only 200 m from shore and debated keeping going to dry land. Then the standard “stay with the boat” line kicked in and we all swam back to the boat (more on that line to come). We were all safe and sound, nobody had drowned, we had life jackets on by now and were holding on to a boat with enough floatation to keep us above the waves even though it was full of water and nobody could get back in. Looked like all we had to do was to hold on until the wind blew us over to the far shore. Of course, I was missing some smarts on heat loss and hypothermia...

HYPOTHERMIA (Part 2 of 3) Guest Article by Bush Creatures

The ingredients for a close-up and personal visit with hypothermia had started coming together the moment I left the cabin in the morning to head down to the boat. Staying up too late and getting up too early had left me tired. There was no time for breakfast and not enough time to pay attention to the sky and weather. There was no plan and minimal survival gear if we dumped the boat. I had got away with that kind of inattention a thousand times before, coming back none the wiser. Not this time. I was now holding on to a swamped boat and up to my neck in very cold water.

Hypothermia is simply a loss of body heat to the point where body functions are impaired or stop. Whether geocaching or boating, the formula for loss of body heat is the same: radiation (the body radiates heat into a colder environment), conduction (direct contact between the body and a colder environment. Water takes heat from the body about 25 times faster than air.), convection (cold molecules moving across the warmer body like wind-chill) and evaporation (where heat is lost when liquids turn to gas such as through perspiration or when breathing out warm air on a very cold day). The variables are almost infinite. What is the air or water temperature, how well is the body insulated from cold, wet or wind, how fast is the body losing heat from exertion? What natural insulation and heat sources does the body have?

As we hung on to the boat and tried to guess how long before we would be blown to the far shore, I was a feast for heat loss. Radiation and conduction into the cold water was the number one threat although the cold wind blowing across my face and head and the puffs of my breath in the cold air were also helping. I am not naturally well-insulated and the lack of body fuel (remember that skipped breakfast?) didn’t help. Strangely enough, I didn’t feel cold. Heck, at no point in the incident did I feel particularly scared. I should have been scared. By now I was close to the point of no-return.

Symptoms of hypothermia can vary almost as much as the causes but all relate to loss of body functions. Confusion, weakness, lack of coordination, drowsiness and violent shivering are all early symptoms. The bad news is that it is not always possible to see those symptoms in yourself. My pals were not hypothermia smart either but at some point as we floated along, two of them moved me between them and locked my arms in theirs because I was talking but making no sense and they were afraid I was going to let go of the boat.

The only good news about the high winds that day was an arrival at the far shore in about fifteen minutes. I will never forget how good it felt to feel rock and sand under my feet and then crawl onto dry land. Safe and sound and out of the water. No drowning victim today. Then the violent shivering really kicked in. I got up and stumbled around with enough brain function left to try to make a fire out of the drift wood lying on the shore. I had a lighter and couldn’t even hold it although it was so wet it wouldn’t have fired up anyway. In my mental and physical state, even a water-proof match container was too technologically advanced. A space blanket would have been a great idea but I wouldn’t have been able to take it out of the plastic wrap if I even remembered I had it. Sudden immersion in cold water wearing jeans and a heavy parka hadn’t drowned me in spite of the stupid lack of a life jacket. But I was completely past the point of any attempt at self-rescue.

Hypothermia (Part 3 of 3) Guest Article by Bush Creatures

An individual can take steps to avoid hypothermia but once they have moved past the minor stage of hypothermia, it is up to others to save their lives because it is very unlikely that they can save themselves.

With proper planning and equipment, rescue from minor and moderate stages of hypothermia is very possible. NOTE, I DO NOT HAVE FORMAL MEDICAL TRAINING AND THE FOLLOWING ARE SUGGESTIONS BASED ON A FAIR BIT OF STUDY ON THE SUBJECT AND COMMON SENSE. IN A HYPOTHERMIC SITUATION, SEEK MEDICAL HELP. WHEN THE VICTIM IS UNCONSCIOUS AND HEART RATE AND BREATHING ARE SUFFICIENTLY LOW OR ABSENT, STANDARD FIRST AID SUCH AS CPR MAY ACTUALLY HARM THE VICTIM.

Stages of Hypothermia:

Mild – victim is cold, shivering and may be uncoordinated

Moderate – intense shivering, obvious lack of coordination, possible confusion

Severe – shivering may stop, very poor coordination, confusion. May lead to semi consciousness or unconsciousness, erratic respiration and heart beat

Treatment of Hypothermia:

Be aware of the risk – is the temperature and situation capable of causing hypothermia?

Recognize the symptoms – be aware of your companions’ behavior. Are they hypothermic?

Stop the cause – is shelter needed from the wind and cold? Are dry clothes needed? Remember my decision to stay with the swamped boat? Given what I know now about hypothermia and add the variables like temperature, wind, how long until we reached the far shore, I think I should have swam to shore. Would I have made it, would I have been abandoning my buddies or getting them rescued faster? Tough call. I do know that had I been alone, swimming to shore would have been the only survivable option.

Increase available heat – add clothing, use a sleeping bag or space blanket, provide heat

Provide body fuel – warm drinks (no alcohol, limit caffeine), provide carbohydrates, proteins and fats if the victim is capable of eating and drinking

Seek medical help

As we huddled together on that wind swept shore, soaking wet in an air temperature of around freezing, I was at the end stage of moderate hypothermia. Due to lack of proper planning, we were all in various stages of hypothermia and our options were limited. No shelter, dry clothes or other gear to reduce heat loss, no means of increasing heat and no body fuel. We hadn’t been aware of the risk and we didn’t have the equipment to stop the cause and provide heat and body fuel. Any form of help was miles away.

At this point, we got very lucky. I was the luckiest for traveling with pals who could still get their act together and knew their stuff. If no-one was going to come and get us and we lacked the gear to survive, we had get out of there. Using an ammo can and bailing bucket, we were able to get the boat above water. Then, wonder of wonder, the wet motor started after numerous pulls on the cord. The boat was still half full of water and the waves were still too high but I was hauled to the boat and one of the guys managed to get me across enough of the lake to be in walking distance of the cabin. The other guys willingly stayed back in spite of their own risk because the boat wouldn’t carry their weight. At the time, I was clueless but, since then, I often think of that. What can I say? Thanks.

It was a happy ending. I made it to the cabin and heat and then the other guys got back too. Four wet, cold but alive guys sitting together under a blanket in front of the fireplace. Don’t get much better! From that moment on, I vowed that there was no way that I, my family, my friends or anyone else I travel the trails with would face the life threatening situation of hypothermia without a lot of ammunition to fight back.

There is a good chance that most of us will not face a life threatening situation in the water or woods but it is out there. Add to that, the possibility of encountering someone else needing assistance and it is an obligation to be prepared, to be equipped and to have the skills to respond. I duck hunt several times a year. The fall hunting season normally brings temperatures as low as freezing. I geocache almost every weekend of the year and, for the winter months, in temperatures far below freezing. Even in the spring and fall with above zero temperatures, I can expect to encounter the combination of temperature, wind and wet that can cause hypothermia. I prepare for it.

Planning

Plan your geocaching day. Will it be drive-by caches in an urban setting or bush caching? Dress and pack equipment appropriate to the caches. Then don’t deviate from your plans (besides, if you are caching solo, you have already advised a family member or another cacher which caches you are doing, right?).

Sky watch and check the forecast and plan for sudden extremes appropriate to the season. Encountering an unexpected rainstorm or falling in a creek in the spring and fall while wearing light, non-waterproof clothes is great food for hypothermia. Personally, I feel safer from hypothermia bush caching at below zero temperatures because I am always dressed for it and pack the gear necessary to face a geocaching wreck. At warmer temperatures, too many assumptions can get made. While bush caching, I wear or take the clothes needed to survive sleeping out there.

Equipment

Take what you need to face the worst possible scenario and know how to use it and know it works. There is a wealth of advice on the Web about survival kits. Check it out. Personally I have several caching packs depending on the type of caching I am doing. The precious cargo that caches many trails in the bush with me, packs her own basic kids kit.

Can’t resist a “check your equipment” story. Remember our inability to light a fire on that wind swept shore? Vowing not to put up with that again, I bought several waterproof match containers and then figured that I would check them out. One type is the aluminum kind with the lanyard ring. Once sealed, I had difficulty reopening it while messing around with it in the warm basement. Given memories of violent shivering and lack of coordination while hypothermic, that one got tossed. Then I tested the plastic ones. Easier to open but two out of four of them leaked when I submerged them under a brick in the kitchen sink. Whoops? That was easily solved with a bit of waxy, leather boot waterproofing in the threads of the container top but I’m glad I found that out in the kitchen sink and not when I really needed fire.

I have found some brand new survival whistles to be defective when taken straight from the bag. We used to pack a few glow sticks until I discovered that they won’t work after cracking at the bottom of the pack. How often do you check your flashlight? For the sake of the couple of dollars, next time you are on the trails in cold weather, sacrifice a space blanket by trying it. How warm are they? What’s the best way to wrap them around yourself or someone else for maximum warmth.

Hazards

While on the trails, look out for potential hypothermia hazards. A fall into a beaver pond on a crisp fall day can get you every bit as hypothermic as my adventure on the lake. We only cross beaver dams or ice or other water hazards if we know we can survive an unplanned soaking. By the way, how dry will those spare clothes in your larger, long distance bush pack stay when you fall in? I love orange garbage bags. They keep our stuff dry, they can be used as raincoats, signals or picnic blankets and always good for CITO.

Cache In A Group

One cacher on the trails means a do-it-yourself plan for survival. Two cachers doubles the survival options but means one lonely, disabled cacher while the other cacher heads out alone for help. Three cachers means the victim has support but the other cacher still goes it alone while getting out to seek rescue. Four cachers and more is perfection! Do kids count as cachers? Of course. My rules with Bush Girl are her safety is #1. Don’t follow Bush Dad through the ice to rescue him but following #1 first, then follow #2 if you can, help your caching partner. If #1 and #2 work, then #3 is stabilize your partner in that space blanket and those dry clothes and then #4, get help fast.

Communication

If tech has provided us with the ability to use multi-billion dollar military satellites to find peanut butter jars and ammo-cans in the woods, it has also provided us with cell-phones and radios. Batteries good and are the electronics water-proofed in double zip lock bags? Can clever little Bush Girl call 911 and give them a good description of our location? Of course she can. She has her own basic etrex and knows how to use it and knows how to use the cell-phone and our local air ambulance service has a GPSr too. Give them our coords and wave that orange garbage bag, Bush Girl!

General Geo-Caching Safety

Can’t resist repeating my own geo-caching safety creed, particularly for bush caching:

Travel in a group or let some-one know the caches you are doing and a call-for-help time if you have not returned.

Mark your vehicle as a waypoint.

Carry spare batteries for the GPSr and pack a non-electronic compass (compasses don’t run out of batteries.) The lanyard on my Garmin has an attached compass and working whistle.

Dress right for potential weather.

Pack the right survival gear and know how to use it.

Be aware of potential wrecks in your cache hunt such as hypothermia and other dangers and plan for them.

Stay tuned to your surroundings. Look up for leaning trees, look around for potential falls while you are looking down at your GPSr or looking for the cache.

Disclaimer

This is an overview of hypothermia from the angle of a victim not an expert. Googling hypothermia on the internet will provide a wealth of additional information. In serious hypothermia situations, consult medical advice. Then again, with some basic common sense and some basic knowledge on avoiding hypothermia, you may never have to experience or treat hypothermia.

Thanks to Johnnygeo for the safety page.

Happy and safe caching!

Bush Creatures

Teaching Electrical Safety

2006-11-08T00:16:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER

Geocaching Electricity Safety

I enjoy what I do. Throughout the school year I'll go from school to school in Edmonton, Alberta and teach indoor and outdoor electrical safety. Usually groups of kids consist of grades one to five. We'll usually present in a school gym in front of 100-300 kids.

I'll show them a cartoon on safety and stop it every 5 minutes to show them live examples of what's dangerous.
It seems to really connect for them and it's amazing on how much information they remember. This demo takes about 45 minutes.

Also, my work partner and I will demonstate at our shop or on the road an electrical safety demo for adults. We have a demonstration board with a live wire we energize to 4000 volts. Once we energize the wire we fry branches, kite-string and wieners. (It's amazing how many people don't know electicity will travel down kite-string, tree branches and wooden 2 by 4's when it's a high enough voltage) We'll show this demo to general contractors, crane and equipment operators, the fire department and other interested parties.

As we are going through this demo we talk about the fatalities and injuries we've investigated, the personal protective equipment and clothing we use, how much training and experience is required for our employees to be competant to work on our power lines, limits of approach to our lines and many other items.

In the last 8 minutes of the demo we show a "voluntary"slide show of pictures of people who have been injured by electricity. For some people these pictures are difficult to sit though as they are graphic. We give a lot of warning and explain that they may leave if they want to. As we show the pictures we explain what happened in that particular incident and also explain the lasting effects of the incident. These pictures hit our point across quite strongly. The whole demo takes about an hour.

Thanks for listening,

Johnnygeo

Just a Thought 2

2006-11-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER

Geocaching Electrical Safety

In most cases electrical utility boxes, metal lamp posts, wooden power poles, transmission tower legs, etc are PRIVATE PROPERTY. Hiding a geocache on these types of equipment places the cache in violation of Groundspeak's listing of guidelines. You need permission. I don't know anyone or any organization that would give permission to hide a game-piece on their utility equipment.

Johnnygeo

Just a Thought

2006-11-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER

Geocaching Electrical Safety

A couple of questions we need to ask ourselves... When looking for a geocache, is another "smiley" on a stat page worth the safety of myself and possibly others? When I hide a geocache on this type of equipment is it safe for others?
Please don't geocache in or on electrical equipment.

Thank you,

Johnnygeo

What's Arc-Flash?

2006-10-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

DISCLAIMER

Geocaching Electrical Safety

There are two types of electrical incidents that occur on and off the work site. One type is Electrical shock. (When current passes through the body) The other is Arc-Flash.
Please let me explain.

A large percentage of all injuries and fatalities caused by electrical incidents are not caused by electric shock, but by the intense heat, light, and pressure wave (blast) caused by electrical faults. The Arc-Flash in an electrical fault produces the same type of light radiation from which electric welders protect themselves using face shields with dark glass, heavy leather gloves, and full-coverage clothing. The temperature of an Arc-Flash can reach 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit – about four times as hot as the surface of the sun.

An example of an incident producing Arc-Flash is someone opening up an electrical panel or cabinet that does not know the dangers within and accidentally shorts (electrically connect) two phases together with the metal panel cover.

What are the effects of an arc flash explosion? The effects of an arcing fault can be devastating. The intense thermal energy can cause severe burns in a fraction of a second. The blast produced by vaporizing metallic components can break bones and irreparably damage internal organs.

I want to reinforce to you not to open any electrical covers of any kind to try to find or hide geocaches. I’ve seen the first hand results of what Arc-Flash does to people tampering with electrical panels. It’s NOT pretty.

We have so many other places we can hide our caches. Let’s stay away from electrical equipment.

Play safe.

Johnnygeo

Lightning Safety

2006-09-19T23:18:00.000-06:00

DISCLAIMER

(Picture Copyright Gene Moore)

Lightning Safety

What would a Geocaching Electrical Safety Blog be without lightning information?
We've all been out geocaching in the rain and possibly big storms. Myself included. Here are some things you should know for the next time you hear thunder or see lightning.

Contents of this article include:
-An Explanation of Lightning
-Lightning Facts
-Lightning Safety Rules
-Other Information

An Explanation of Lightning:
(The information contained here was found at (thunder.msfc.nasa.gov/primer))
Inside of clouds are small particles known as “hydrometeors”. As these particles grow and interact, the collisions cause them to become charged. After studying these particles, researchers believe that the smaller particles tend to become positively charged while the larger particles become negatively charged. Gravity pulls the larger, negatively charged particles downward, and updrafts tend to send the smaller, positively charged particles upward. The result is that the higher portion of the cloud has a net positive charge while the lower portion of the cloud has a net negative charge. The separation of particles causes a large electrical potential not only within the cloud itself, but also between the cloud and the earth. This electrical potential can become millions of volts in magnitude. Eventually, the electrical resistance in the air breaks down and lightning, the electrical discharge between the regions of the cloud or between the cloud and the ground, is formed.

A single lightning “flash” is formed by a series of lightning “strokes”. Usually there are about four strokes per flash. An average duration of time for a stroke of lightning is about 30 microseconds. The average peak power of a stroke of lightning is about 10^12 watts.
The electrical discharge, lightning, results in heating up the atmosphere immediately around the lightning strike. The lightning can actually heat the area in the general vicinity to 20,000 degrees C! (This is 3 times the temperature of the surface of the sun). The air that has been heated by the lightning is then compressed. This produces a shock wave, which quickly decays to an acoustic wave as it flows away from where the lightning struck.

The flash and the resulting acoustic wave (thunder) that was described in the last paragraph both occur at the same time, so you may be asking “why do I hear the thunder so long after I see the lightning?” The reason is because light travels at 186,000 miles per second and sound only travels at one one-millionth of this speed (approximately 331 meters per second). Thus, although the lightning and the thunder occur at the same place and time, the thunder will be heard well after the lightning is seen. The further from the lightning you are, the longer the lag time will be. In fact, one way to estimate the distance to a lightning strike is by counting how long it takes to hear the thunder after you see the lightning strike. If you take this result and divide it by 5, you will have an approximation to the distance to the strike (in miles).

Lightning Facts:
(These facts are taken from the Automated Weather Source Online)
1) Average Lightning Stroke is 6 miles long.
2) The Temperature of lightning's return stroke can reach 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The surface of the sun is not even that hot! (around 11,000 degrees Fahrenheit).
3) Once the leading edge of a thunderstorm approaches to within 10 miles, you are at immediate risk due to the possibility of lightning strokes coming from overhanging anvil cloud. Because of this, many lightning deaths and injuries occur with clear skies directly overhead.
4) On average, thunder can only be heard over a distance of 3-4 miles, depending on humidity, terrain and other factors.
5) Average thunderstorm is 6-10 miles wide.
6) Average thunderstorm travels at a rate of 25 mph.
This fact was taken from National Geographic Online:
7) Each flash contains about one billion joules of electricity. That's enough energy to light a 100 W light bulb for three months.

Lightning Safety Rules:
(adapted from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA))
1) Stay indoors, and don't venture outside, unless absolutely necessary.
2) Stay away from open doors and windows, fireplaces, radiators, stoves, metal pipes, sinks, and plug-in electrical appliances.
3) Don't use plug-in electrical equipment like hair driers, electric toothbrushes, or electric razors during the storm.
4) Don't use the telephone during the storm. Lightning may strike telephone lines outside.
5) Don't take laundry off the clothesline.
6) Don't work on fences, telephone or power lines, pipelines, or structural steel fabrication.
7) Don't use metal objects like fishing rods and golf clubs. Golfers wearing cleated shoes are particularly good lightning rods.
8) Don't handle flammable materials in open containers.
9) Stop tractor work, especially when the tractor is pulling metal equipment, and dismount. Tractors and other implements in metallic contact with the ground are often struck by lightning. 10) Get out of the water and off small boats.
11) Stay in your automobile if you are traveling. Automobiles offer excellent lightning protection. 12) Seek shelter in buildings. If no buildings are available, your best protection is a cave, ditch, canyon, or under head-high clumps of trees in open forest glades.
13) When there is no shelter, avoid the highest object in the area. If only isolated trees are nearby, your best protection is to crouch in the open, keeping twice as far away from isolated trees as the trees are high.
14) Avoid hilltops, open spaces, wire fences, metal clotheslines, exposed sheds, and any electrically conductive elevated objects.
15) When you feel the electrical charge -- if your hair stands on end or your skin tingles -- lightning may be about to strike you. Drop to the ground immediately.

Other Information:
In Canada, lightning kills about seven people and seriously injures 60 to 70 people a year.

In the United States, according to the U.S. National Weather Service, 73 people die from lightning strikes each year and hundreds more suffer life-debilitating injuries. Memory loss, attention deficits, sleep disorders, numbness, dizziness, and weakness are some of the maladies cited.
The highest death rates from lightning in the United States are in Florida, which is known as the lightning capital of the country. According to the service, from 1959 to 2003 lightning killed 3,696 people in the United States. Of those, 425 were in the Sunshine State. (The only state that did not record a lightning death in the period was Alaska).

Take care,

Johnnygeo

Link's of Interest Regarding Lightning:
Alberta Government Daily Lightning Map
www.srd.gov.ab.ca/wildfires/fpd/maps_fwlight.cfm

I found most of my information for this article and thank:
www.public.asu.edu/~gbadams/lightning/lightning.html#explanation
www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/lightning/index_e.html
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0522
For picture: Copyright, Gene Moore: www.chaseday.com
(Amazing pictures on website)

Effects of Electricity, Geocaching Electrical Safety

2006-09-18T08:33:00.000-06:00

DISCLAIMER

It doesn't take a lot of current to harm a person(Current=The flow of electrons).
A small amount of electricity can still cause a lot of damage. Take a look at the chart below for examples of what can happen if you get an electric shock. Remember, It's current and not voltage that kills(Voltage is what "pushes" the current along).

***The electricity in your house can be as dangerous as the electricity in outdoor power lines.*** (The only difference between the two is how you look after an electrical shock)

Play safe,

Johnnygeo

Geocaching Electrical Safety 2

2006-09-17T14:23:00.000-06:00

DISCLAIMER

It’s been great seeing my first article posted on geocaching sites all over North America. I thank all site administrators who posted it for their generosity. It’s also been great seeing all the communication on forums.

There have been many great comments and questions come up on the topic. One question that comes to mind that I really enjoyed from a Vancouver Island, British Columbia geocacher is:“Has anyone visited our cache **** ******* in **** *******? It's a small cache at one of the 4 legs of a tall power tower. Would this be considered a danger? If it is I will archive it right away.”
That's a great question. I look at two things when it comes to safety. Probability and Severity.
Probability: What's the chance something's ever going to fail on a tower? Slim to none? Who knows?

Severity: What loss would you receive from an incident occurring at this structure if something failed? NO SECOND CHANCE. In my opinion I would NOT have a cache anywhere around that structure.

Also, the power utilities would never give permission for a game-piece on their electrical supporting structures.

Here's another question that may pop up, “What if I make a fake electrical box cache? That's not dangerous, is it?” My question back is, Do kids know the difference between real and fake boxes/equipment? Do adults know the difference? If a kid was taken to a number of fake electrical box caches with parents and the next time, being alone, came across a real, open vandalized electrical box would he/she know to walk away from the immediate danger? In my opinion kids wouldn’t know the difference and the last thing I'd want is my kid(s) getting used-to or being comfortable playing around this equipment.

**Here's an example of what's out there (I took this from a geocache log that I came across), "... Container is an electrical box (no power) mounted on the side of my building. All Employees are aware of box so this should be a muggle free zone...

I hope kids OR adults are not trying to find caches by opening up any electrical box covers. Again, do kids know the difference between real and fake? I've seen electrical box caches that look like real live electrical equipment. That scares me. This is coming from a guy who investigates power line contacts and has seen the first hand results of electricity.

-Do I know of any kids getting killed by electricity when "Geocaching" around electrical equipment? No.

-Do I know of any kids getting killed by electricity when just "playing" around electrical equipment? Yes.
There are a lot of examples out there on the web. Here’s one very sad incident: ( link ) It doesn't matter if an electrical box, pole, conduit, wire, etc is at a potential of 120 or 8000 volts, if you’re in the path of electricity when it’s trying to go to ground and about 1 amp passes through your ticker you're done. It's amps that kill, not voltage. Amp (ampere)= amount of electrons flowing through a conductor. Voltage= what’s "pushing" those electrons through the conductor.

In my opinion there are so many other places we can hide our caches. Let's get in the habit of not hiding them on and around electrical equipment.
Thank you for listening,
Johnnygeo

Geocaching Electrical Safety

2006-09-17T13:58:00.000-06:00

DISCLAIMER

I've been geocaching for about a year now. I have found many creative types of geocaches. This is what makes it fun and challenging. Lately I've been concerned about the amount of geocaches that are hidden in and around electrical equipment.

I am a Safety Coordinator for a Power Utility here in Alberta. It is my job to look out for the men and women who work on our electrical lines and equipment. It's also my job to look out for the general public.One of my job tasks that I really enjoy is teaching kids at schools electrical safety smarts. I'll go to elementary schools throughout the year to present a safety cartoon and explain in detail the indoor and outdoor electrical hazards that exist. I explain real life examples of people getting hurt really bad and death due to electricity. I show them what dangerous wires, boxes and other equipment looks like. I teach them to stay away from all electrical lines and equipment and not to play on guard rails that sometimes protect the high voltage electrical equipment.,br>
I am asking all parents and kids not to geocache around any electrical equipment. This is power poles, electrical boxes that are in your yard or power boxes in some other location.Please let me explain my concerns.I want you to remember two very important characteristics of electricity.

1. Electricity always wants to go back to the ground.

2. Electricity is lazy. It will take shortcuts to get to the ground.
That could be a ladder touching a overhead power line or a geocacher touching the side of a damaged electrical box. Cars hit these types of boxes all the time and sometimes there are no visible signs of damage. Inside there may be wires loose that come undone due to impact and cause the ground to be energized. (Step Potential/Ground being electrified)

Also, the cabinet may become energized and when you touch the cabinet the electricity will pass through you to get to the ground.(Touch Potential)

In North America we have had fatalities due to Step & Touch Potential. There is no second chance.

Sometimes equipment just fails. The insulating factors that protect the public may fail due to age and possibly energize the box.

The City of Edmonton transformers have a voltage of 13,800. That's over 100 times the voltage in your wall that you may use when you plug in a toaster. Imagine that going through you. Just don't take the chance.

I am asking in behalf as a Safety Professional and Geocacher please not to hide caches on or around electrical equipment and not to even look for a cache that may be on or around any electrical equipment. If you believe that it is in a hazardous zone please contact the person who placed the geocache. If that is not a successful route please contact the person who approved it. Most of the time the approver of a geocache is not aware that it is in a dangerous zone. Let's look out for each other.
Thank you for listening to my concerns and play safe,

Johnnygeo