Shocking demonstrations

Safety trainers shows power of electricity

scottw@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Watching 7,000 volts fry a hotdog or ignite a tree can be pretty convincing: power lines are dangerous.

Local government officials, emergency management personnel and emergency responders from the SEMO Electrical Cooperative's six-county area attended a live power line demonstration Friday at the Co-op's office in Sikeston as part of an emergency preparedness summit.

The demonstration was presented by employees of Pike, which SEMO Electric contracts to work on the co-op's electrical distribution system, using one of Pike's LiveLine Demonstration trucks.

Pike's has six of the demonstration trucks to provide "safety awareness training for electrical hazards," according to Steve Bryant, safety supervisor for Pike.

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