October 23, 2009

FKEC Teaches Key Largo School Students About Safe Planting and Donates a Tree

Key Largo School third graders recently learned about “smart planting” and electrical safety from FKEC Utility Forester Jason Richards (sitting front middle), Utility Electrician Blane Parker (sitting front left) and Environmental Affairs Coordinator Sara Hamilton (standing left). Following a safety demonstration, Richards took the students outside to plant their tree away from power lines on the site of their new playground.

FKEC Utility Forester Jason Richards teaches students about planting trees the proper distance away from power lines as they plant a donated Pigeon Plum Tree on the school’s campus.

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative recently visited Key Largo School third grade students to teach them about the importance of planting trees the proper distance away from power lines. FKEC also presented an electricity safety demonstration and donated a tree to the school.

"The majority of power outages that occur during storms are caused by trees planted too close to power lines," said FKEC Utility Forester Jason Richards. "It is important that home and business owners consider the mature size of the trees they are planting and then add at least 10 feet to keep the branches away from overhead lines and equipment."

Students helped Richards plant the donated Pigeon Plum tree on the site of the school’s new playground.