COLLINSVILLE, IL (SEPTEMBER 20, 2021) – In-class curriculum materials, teacher aids and specialized training modules developed by Ameren Illinois are helping more than 50,000 elementary and high school students and their families to be safer around electric and natural gas infrastructure.
Through the Ameren Illinois Energy Smart Kids program, Ameren Illinois provides kindergarten through eighth grade teachers with dynamic energy safety and efficiency content, including videos, interactive games, quizzes, and experiments that are age-appropriate on topics such as atoms, electrons and electrical flow, substations, electric water hazards, natural gas drilling, storage and natural gas leak recognition. The free resources are sent each year to teachers to incorporate in their lesson plans. Visit AmerenIllinois.com/EnergySmartKids to learn more.
"These materials are built for the classroom, support teaching objectives and help students learn to use energy responsibly," said Mary Heger, senior vice president, Customer Experience for Ameren Illinois. "We regularly hear from our teachers that the curriculum and exercises are motivational and well received by the students. Even better, these are lessons they take home to their parents and family members."
For high school students, Ameren Illinois created a training module that instructs teen drivers about what to do if a vehicle encounters a downed power line. The module and curriculum were created based on the input of 150 driver education instructors who indicated that the basic driver education curriculum lacked information about the dangers of downed power lines. The company partnered with the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association to design the module and supporting materials that teachers are using in the classroom, behind the wheel, or virtually. Visit AmerenIllinois.com/DriverEd to learn more.
"It's a natural instinct to quickly exit a vehicle after any crash, but when power lines are involved, both the vehicle and ground can become energized," said Karen Boulanger, director, Safety for Ameren Illinois, who is also featured on the safety video. "Our training drives home the importance of remaining in the vehicle and calling 911. Only when the power company arrives and certifies that the lines are de-energized is it safe to exit."
About Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers throughout central and southern Illinois. Our service territory covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles and our mission is to power the quality of life. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us on Twitter @AmerenIllinois and Facebook.
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