June is National Safety Month, and, in preparation for the approaching summer, we’re putting a spotlight on tips for our customers to practice natural gas and electrical safety in their homes or businesses. Follow these tips and share them with your family and friends. By doing so, you can help protect your loved ones and our community. 

1. Reach your #yardgoals around natural gas lines -- You might not think about it, but the lines that bring you natural gas service run underground. This means if you dig on your property without knowing where those lines are, you run the risk of breaking one. Contact 811, a free service, before you dig and we will come out and mark your underground utilities, so you can work your outdoor magic safely. Learn more here. 
2. Keep your cool without overloading your outlets -- As summer heats up, we tend to have more devices that need to be plugged in. Do not plug multiple high-powered appliances into the same outlet and be careful not to overload power strips. Never chain power strips together. Find more tips for home electrical safety here. 
3. Be mindful of metallic foil balloons for any upcoming celebrations -- We get it. Between Pride Month, graduations, summer birthdays and even appreciating small joys and victories, there is a lot to celebrate and mylar (metallic) balloons are a fun addition to your celebration. Just remember to pierce and fully deflate them when the party’s over. These balloons conduct electricity, and if they hit our community's power lines, they can cause outages or even a fire. 
4. Report downed power lines or gas leaks -- If you see a  downed power line, or if you smell natural gas or suspect a gas leak, call 911 and SDG&E (1-800-411-7343) right away. Never touch a downed power line. While our lines are designed to de-energize in these situations, you should always assume the line remains energized for your safety. 
5. Check safety devices, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, to ensure that they are functioning properly. 
6. Always have fire extinguishers ready when grilling – And make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it. If the lid is closed, gas can build up inside your grill and turn into a fireball when you light it and open the lid.   
7. Share this information with loved ones -- Passing on this information to your loved ones can help keep them safe. Educating others on gas and electrical safety could save them from harm as well as costly repairs.  

Remember, while our electricity and natural gas keep our lights, stovetops and water heaters running, misusing them can be dangerous. For more safety tips, visit sdge.com/safety.