A child looks up in the sky and sees a flock of birds sitting on the power lines. The first thought that might come to this young mind is those thick, black strings overhead must be safe.

Children receive mixed messages about power lines and electricity, said Diane Guerttman, coordinator of Safe Kids of Central Wyoming.

Electricity turns the lights on, makes a computer work and keeps businesses, schools and the city running. At the same time, electricity and the power lines it runs through are so powerful they can kill someone.

"We teach kids that it's not something to be afraid of, but they need to be respectful of it," Guerttman said.

With more people outside during the summer, parents need to make sure children are aware of the dangers of power lines and to stay away from them.

While doing some summer activities, such as playing baseball, flying kites, climbing trees and jumping on trampolines, parents and children should pay extra attention to power lines, said Margaret Oler, spokeswoman for Rocky Mountain Power.

Guerttman said she hesitates to tell children they can't climb trees or participate in other types of play. With a child, she will start by asking, if he or she even likes to climb on things.

If the child does, Guerttman will tell the child not to climb trees near power lines and to ask an adult before climbing anything.

As with any safety issue and children, supervision is always key, Guerttman said. When a parent can't watch the child, the parent needs to reiterate safety rules such as not playing near power lines

This may sound like common sense, but a curious child may not know better, Oler said.

Besides power lines, parents should tell their children not to play on or near any other electrical substations, such as the large green boxes you see near power lines.

They are fenced in so people don't get hurt, but children, especially those who like to climb, should be told not to climb those fences.

Some adults might need to take this advice, too, Oler said. People become complacent around power lines and electricity, because they are so used to it being there.

"Electricity is a very powerful form of energy and it is so ever present," Oler said. "We all - no matter what our age - need to be safe around electricity."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.

Be aware

How to prevent accidents with power lines and related equipment:

- Talk to children about the dangers of electricity and power lines.

- Look up and around before flying a kite to make sure you aren't near power lines. If a kite is headed toward a power line, let go of it.

- Never touch a kite that is tangled in a power line. Call Rocky Mountain Power at (888) 221-7070 to retrieve a tangled kite.

- Ensure trampolines aren't placed under power lines.

- Check with an adult before climbing a tree. Don't climb trees near power lines or build a tree house near them.

- Supervise children as much as possible. Do a "once over" of any playground or field checking for any power lines or electrical substations.

- Never climb power poles, fences around substations or any other structure related to providing electricity.

- Don't play with or near fallen trees. They could still be connected to power lines.

- For adults, call 811 to have underground utility lines marked before starting any digging project.

Source: Rocky Mountain Power and Diane Guerttman, coordinator of Safe Kids of Central Wyoming