JCP&L Preps First Responders on Electrical Safety

The Morristown Office of Emergency Management is asking residents to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season amid warnings from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration of an "active 2013."

To keep emergency first responders up to date, Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) conducted a new electrical safety training program for first responders at the Morris County Emergency Management Association meeting earlier this month at the Morris County Police and Fire Academy. 

The program, conducted by JCP&L manager of emergency preparedness Bill Stevenson, includes practical and important safety information for police and fire personnel, as well as emergency medical technicians, when responding to downed power lines and other emergencies involving electrical equipment and facilities.

“JCP&L has developed a number of new tools to provide valuable information to emergency management officials and first responders," said Jeff Paul, Morris County Office of Emergency Management Director. 

"We are looking forward to sharing this valuable information with our Municipal Emergency Management Coordinators and first responders.  Educating our emergency response community about electricity is about saving lives and I applaud JCP&L for launching this new training resource for the emergency response community.”

Since the initiative was developed earlier this year, JCP&L has held 10 electrical safety training programs for first responders throughout its service territory.  Plans call for continuing to offer the program throughout this year and next.  

Copies of JCP&L’s emergency responders’ electric safety kit are distributed at each training program.  The kit, entitled "Electricity -- Recognizing and Avoiding the Hazards: A Training Tool for Emergency Responders," includes: 

• A 40 minute video
• DVD detailing JCP&L’s restoration process
• PowerPoint presentation and supplemental booklet
• Suggested guidelines on how to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for emergency situations when electrical facilities are involved
• Facilitator’s guide