After noticing children playing around the underground pad-mounted transformer boxes in her neighborhood, Kelley Cochran knew they needed to hear about electric safety.

Putting her thoughts into action, Cochran accepted the charge of leading Eastern Division employee efforts to reach more children than ever before with Safe-T-Opolis. The goal for 2012 was to present Alabama Power’s electric safety program to every fourth-grade classroom in the division.

Safe-T-Opolis uses an electrically charged, three-dimensional model of a typical neighborhood to demonstrate safe practices around power lines. Although the program can benefit a wide range of audiences, it is designed for fourth-grade students. Electric safety is part of the Alabama Course of Study for this grade level.

Safe-T-Opolis was presented to every fourth-grade class in Eastern Division.

“I think it’s important to educate students, as well as adults, in the community about safety,” said Cochran, Oneonta Office manager. “To me, presenting this program says you care about your community, and you want the people in it to be safe.”

To reach the goal, Cochran motivated employees to be trained as volunteer Safe-T-Opolis presenters known as Lifeliners. As a result, the number of Eastern Division Lifeliners swelled from 15 in 2011 to 48 in 2012.

Cochran’s next step was to work with other business office managers to spread the word about the program to the division’s 98 public and private schools.

“It took everybody working together for us to schedule the schools,” said Cochran. “We were proactive in contacting the superintendents, principals and fourth-grade teachers. Then, each business office manager was responsible for scheduling programs at the schools in their community.”

Everyone’s efforts paid off in a big way. In 2012, Safe-T-Opolis was presented in every fourth-grade class in Eastern Division, except one. The teacher of that class was forced to cancel at the last minute.

Along with visiting schools, Eastern Division Lifeliners presented programs for other groups, including garden clubs, senior citizen centers, Cub Scouts and adults with disabilities.

In all, 262 programs were presented to 7,822 people. That represents an increase from 2011 of 140 percent in the number of programs given and 142 percent in the number of people reached.

“Eastern Division did an incredible job in supporting, promoting and presenting Safe-T-Opolis in 2012,” said Kim Savage, Safe-T-Opolis program manager, Risk Services. “Everyone in the division stepped up to the challenge of reaching this aggressive goal. When they reschedule the program that was cancelled, they will be able to say that every fourth-grader in the division has seen our safety program. This will be an incredible feat.”

Jonique Parker, a Lifeliner for 12 years, said Safe-T-Opolis teaches children a healthy respect for electricity.

“It’s like the old saying goes: ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’” said Parker, Anniston engineering supervisor. “There are so many things, like guy guards and pad-mounts, that children see as toys or playthings. When you explain to them what they are, you can see the headlights come on. If I can instill a reverent fear of electricity in them through these programs, then it’s all worth it.”

Mark Mayo, a Gadsden field service representative who joined the Lifeliners in 2012, said he was excited to have the chance to talk with kids and share his knowledge about electric safety.

“I felt kids needed to know what we do and why it’s important to stay away from power lines,” said Mayo, adding the program benefits the whole family in many cases. “I talked to some of the parents, and they said their kids came home talking about the program and what they learned.”

Eastern Division Vice President Julia Segars commended employees for volunteering their time and energy to achieve this goal.

“When we put our 2012 Lifeliners goal in front of our employees, they responded in true Alabama Power style – they were persistent and relentless in meeting it,” Segars said. “I am extremely proud of the 48 Lifeliners who answered the call. This awareness and education effort will result in safer communities throughout the division.”