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Bandera County Courier is published weekly by Gail S. Joiner, 1210 Hackberry St., Bandera, TX 78003. Subscription price $26 per year in Bandera County, TX; $36 per year for other Texas counties; $40 per year out of Texas. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Bandera County Courier, P.O. Box 1704, Bandera, TX 78003. Periodicals Postage pending in Bandera, Texas.

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'What's the frequency, Ralph?' Published March 27, 2008    Bandera County Fire Marshal Ralph Dresser advised area residents to use the Midland All-Hazard Emergency Radio to stay informed of potentially dangerous Hill Country weather situations. The code for Bandera is 048019. At this setting, and tuned to one of three local frequencies (Channel 3, 5 or 6) the radio will automatically sound an alarm if severe weather is approaching.     The Midland All-Hazard Radio is available at H.E.B. for about $32, or may be purchased online at www.weatherradiostore.com.

Here's what is in the Safety section of the on-line Courier:

'What's the frequency, Ralph?'	Published March 27, 2008
Food-borne pathogens — not a laughing matter	Published Nov. 22, 2007
Kids get a 'head start' on fire safety	Published Oct. 11, 2007
Boating safety course Aug. 18	Published Aug. 9, 2007
H-E-B beans pulled in expanded botulism brouhaha	Published Aug. 9, 2007
DSHS Issues Food Recall Reminder	Published July 26, 2007
Botulism-prompted food recall expanded	Published July 26, 2007
The Christmas gift that can save a life­even yours	Published Dec. 7, 2006
Time to prepare for severe weather	Published Jan. 19, 2006
Is your fireplace safe?	Published Oct. 20, 2005
ICEing down an emergency	Published Aug. 4, 2005
Wash it first!	Published March 31, 2005
Not too early to plan toward tornado safety	Published Feb. 24, 2005
BEC Raises Safety Concerns After "Fear Factor" Bad Example	Published Feb. 10, 2005

Food-borne pathogens — not a laughing matter By Edith Chenault Special to the Courier Published Nov. 22, 2007    E. Coli and salmonella cases are headline news. However, consumers can take steps to safeguard their health and that of their family, according to a meats specialist with the Texas Cooperative Extension.     Appropriate steps include cooking meat properly at home and being careful in restaurants, said Dr. Davey Griffin. "We must take time to cook products adequately," he said, adding that meats have known pathogens associated with them that are difficult to manufacture out.     "These bacteria are in our environment," Griffin noted, saying the meat industry — from producer to packer — is working to reduce the number of pathogens in the product.     "However, because these (pathogens) are very small, there is absolutely no way we can keep them all out," he said, testing will not catch all of them.     "We're talking about minute bacteria," Griffin said. "If we don't take a sample that includes one of those bacteria, then we can get a false negative, which leads to a false feeling of security. To be sure bacteria is not there, you would have to sample it all. If we sample it all, there's none left to eat."     When dining out, request hamburgers cooked medium well to well done, he said. "I'm a big proponent of cutting it in half and making sure that it is not pink in the middle," Griffin said. "If you have children, check their hamburgers as well."     At home, practice safety before, during and after cooking meat. Consumers should use a dial or digital meat thermometer, he said, the best being one that can be calibrated. Also, hands should be washed thoroughly before cooking and after handling raw meat.     Griffin recommended cooking solid-muscle cuts like beef, lamb or pork steaks or roasts to an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer and make sure the thermometer goes into the centermost portion of the cut. "We can be pretty assured that if we cook the outside of a product like steak or roast and we get those done on the outside, then they don't have to be as well done on the inside," he said, noting the inside of most solid muscle is essentially sterile.     On the other hand, ground beef or pork meat products must be cooked to 160 degrees F. "If you grind up steak, the outside is distributed within the ground meat product and it's all considered the outside of the product," Griffin said. He added, "That means anything on the outside of the product, including potential pathogens, is now on the inside."     For this reason, it makes sense to cook it to a level that will kill bacteria before pathogens cause food safety hazards, according to Griffin.     Measuring crumbled ground meat's temperature is a little trickier, but can be done in the pan or in a dish by surrounding the thermometer with the meat. Patties can be picked up with tongs and the thermometer inserted from the side.     "Be sure to check more than one patty, because you will have hot spots and cold spots when cooking on the grill," he said. In addition, ground meat patties should be thawed before cooking, he said, especially thicker and heavier patties.     The danger lies in the outside being cooked long before the inside.     "If you can put them in the refrigerator the day before and let them start to thaw out, then it's much easier to get them done all at the same time, very uniformly," he said. According to Griffin, if meat is left on the sink or outside, it will thaw quickly but the chance of bacterial contamination or spoilage also increases.     He also urged everyone to follow manufacturer's recommendations when thawing meat in a microwave. "The problem with a microwave — and especially with cooking in a microwave — are the hot and cold spots.     When using a microwave, take multiple temperatures to make sure the thermometer is not placed in a cold spot in the meat."     Whole cuts of poultry must be cooked to an internal temperature of 180 degrees to 185 degrees F, and ground poultry should be cooked to at least 165 degrees, he said.     "Poultry products are a little higher (temperature) because we know there's a increased chance of them having especially salmonella — a pathogen of concern on poultry products," Griffin said.     Additionally, he cautioned consumers not to put cooked meat on the same unwashed plate or cutting board that contained raw meat.     "Cutting boards can cause cross-contamination," Griffin said. He advised consumers to follow the lead of restaurants and use color-coded cutting boards for cooked and raw meat. "Keep two in your house, so you never have to be confused as to which one is for raw and which one is for cooked foods," he said.     Keeping safe may be a lot of trouble, Griffin said, but the payoff is worth it. "The consequences for not doing that are much, much worse than just the small amount of time it takes to maintain safety," he said.     "If you've ever had one of these food-borne pathogens, you never want to have it happen again."

Kids get a 'head start' on fire safety Published Oct. 11, 2007 Staff Photo by David Arny    Bandera Fire Chief Max Kohns (left) gave a presentation on fire safety to a head start group from Alkek Elementary Friday, Oct. 5. He was assisted by volunteer firefighters Cody Burns (in fire suit) and Brenda Hernandez (not pictured).     Approximately 60 children took part in "Community Helpers Day," which included a trip to the Bandera Volunteer Fire Department station, as well as next door to the Kronkosky Library of Bandera County.

Boating safety course Aug. 18 Published Aug. 9, 2007    Tom Kral will teach a Texas certified Boating Safety course at the Medina Lake Volunteer Fire Department Saturday, August 18.     Only those above the age of 13 are eligible to register, although “anybody can come,” Kral said.     Currently, Texas has no requirements for boating licenses. Safety courses, though, reduce insurance, according to Kral.     Kral has been teaching this course for ten years, and is a Coast Guard Auxiliary Instructor as well as a certified teacher of the National Safe Boating Council.     To sign up for the 8:30 am to 5 pm course, call (210)391-4031.

H-E-B beans pulled in expanded botulism brouhaha by Judith Pannebaker BCC Staff Writer Published Aug. 9, 2007    It looks like more canned goods will be flying off shelves in local Texas kitchens and pantries after H-E-B recalled one of their house brand products, adding to the botulism brouhaha.     Last week, the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain joined Castleberry Food Products of Augusta, Georgia, in the nationwide recall of possible botulism-tainted food products. An undetermined number of canned French-style green beans sold under the H-E-B and Hill Country Fare brand names were pulled from the shelves last weekend, according to a company spokesman.     The suspect beans were processed by Lakeside Foods of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, which voluntarily recalled 15,000 cases of the green beans that federal officials stated might have been inadequately processed.     Codes involved are EAA5247, EAA5257, EAA5267 and EAA5277; EAB5247 and EAB5257; ECA5207, ECA5217, ECA5227 and ECA5297; ECB5207, ECB5217, ECB5227 and ECB5307. H-E-B customers can get refunds at any local store. Anyone with questions is asked to call Lakeside Foods at 800-466-3834, ext. 4090.     In a related incident, last week’s nationwide recall of hot dog chili sauce and other items made by Castleberry Food Products was also expanded over the weekend, according to personnel with the Texas Department of State Health Services.     The recall now includes approximately 80 canned food products, as well as four pet food items. A complete list of recalled products is available at www.castleberrys.com.     In addition, consumers should note all products on the list are being recalled regardless of “best by” dates on the cans. Officials warned consumers not eat any of the recalled products or feed them to pets. Any recalled products on hand should be discarded immediately.     The initial recall, announced last week by the US Food and Drug Administration, in conjunction with the company, was initiated due to possible contamination with the organism that causes botulism, a serious paralytic illness. Four people, including two in Texas, became ill after consuming hot dog chili sauce made by Castleberry Food Products.     Symptoms of botulism may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and muscle weakness that moves progressively down the body. Botulism can cause paralysis of the breathing muscles, which can be deadly without prompt medical attention.     Anyone experiencing symptoms of botulism should seek immediate medical attention. For more information about the recall, contact www.fda.gov and www.usda.gov.

DSHS Issues Food Recall Reminder Published July 26, 2007    The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has urged Texas consumers to heed instructions issued in a nationwide recall of hot dog sauces and other products manufactured by Castleberry Food Products, Augusta, Georgia.      Consumers should not eat any of the recalled products and should discard any they have on hand, said a DHSH spokesman.     The recall, announced earlier this week by the US Food and Drug Administration and the company, is being conducted due to possible contamination with the organism that causes botulism, a serious paralytic illness.     The following products with “best by” dates from April 30, 2009, through May 22, 2009, are being recalled:     • Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000101)     • Castleberry’s Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030099533)     • Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 1111083942)     • Morton House Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 7526665830)     • Cattle Drive Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001515)     • Southern Home Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 0788015360)     • Meijer Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 4125095229)     • Castleberry’s Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001015)     • Castleberry’s Barbecue Pork, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000402)     • Bunker Hill Chili No Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 7526604112)     Four people, including two from Texas, became ill after eating Castleberry’s or Castleberry’s Austex hot dog chili sauce. Other recalled products were produced in the same plant.     Symptoms of botulism may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and muscle weakness that moves progressively down the body.     Botulism can cause paralysis of the breathing muscles, which can be deadly without prompt medical attention. Anyone showing symptoms of botulism should seek immediate medical attention.

Botulism-prompted food recall expanded Published July 26, 2007    AUSTIN (July 23, 2007) - A nationwide recall, announced last week, of hot dog chili sauce and other items made by Castleberry Food Products, Augusta, Ga., was expanded during the weekend and now includes some 80 canned food products and four pet food items.     The expanded list of recalled products is available at www.castleberrys.com.     All products on the list are being recalled regardless of “best by” dates on the cans.     Consumers should not eat any of the recalled products or feed them to pets and should discard any they have on hand.     The initial recall, announced last week by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the company, was done because of possible contamination with the organism that causes botulism, a serious paralytic illness.     More information about the recall also is available at www.fda.gov and www.usda.gov.     Four people, including two from Texas, became ill after consuming hot dog chili sauce made by the company.     Anyone with symptoms of botulism should seek immediate medical attention.     Symptoms may include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing and muscle weakness that moves progressively down the body. Botulism can cause paralysis of the breathing muscles, which can be deadly without prompt medical attention.

The Christmas gift that can save a life­even yours ]by Stephanie Day BCC Staff Published Dec. 7, 2006 True Value employee Justin Snyder knows that smoke detectors make great gifts. True Value sells smoke alarms that range in price from $11.99 for a basic detector to $33.99 for a double sensor. The Bandera store also carries carbon monoxide and explosive gas alarms. Staff Photo by Stephanie Day    Most people would not think of it as a Christmas gift, yet it could have saved the lives of former State Senator Frank Madla, his mother-in-law and his granddaughter. For those who seem to "already have everything" this Christmas­or especially for elderly friends, relatives or loved ones­consider purchasing an inexpensive and life saving smoke detector.     Bandera County Fire Marshal Ralph Dresser points out that the $10 gift could save a life, or several lives. He believes in this message so strongly that he has purchased armloads of smoke detectors in the past and has given them to those who needed them. And Bandera County's volunteer fire departments, Dresser says, will install them for elderly residents who need help.     Since smoke rises, Dresser explains that smoke detectors need to be on the ceiling or near the ceiling. However, he advocates putting them where homeowners can get to them to test them monthly and to change the batteries. "For a short time, smoke detectors can even be left on a counter or somewhere up high until they can be put up correctly.     "I tell everyone to change the batteries every time the time changes. That makes it easy to remember. I've heard conflicting stories about State Senator Madla's death. I've heard that he didn't have smoke alarms and I've heard that he had them and the batteries didn't work. I don't know which is true, but I do know that smoke detectors save lives. Every home should have a smoke alarm­or several. Ideally, there should be one in every bedroom and in the hall." True Value has smoke detectors for $11.99 up to $33.99 for a double sensor alarm. They also carry detectors for carbon monoxide and explosive gas.     Hevenor's Lumber also carries smoke detectors. They temporarily ran out after news about Madla's fire hit the media, but have reordered.     For those who cannot afford to purchase smoke detectors, Santa is alive and well in Bandera County. Both Helping Hand and Silver Sage Corral said they would do whatever was necessary to match a smoke alarm with a person in need of one although they do not have official smoke detector provision programs. The Bandera County Sheriff's Department will furnish smoke detectors to those who need them through TRIAD. Call the sheriff's department at 830-796-4323. Smoke detectors might not seem like a ritzy, glamorous or romantic gift for Christmas­until one considers that they can give the gift of life.     Smoke detectors prevent injuries, minimize property damage and save lives. Household fires are the second cause of unintentional death in the home, taking 3,200 lives a year in the United States. While an estimated 90 percent of homes have smoke detectors, some 16 million do not function. Non-functioning fire alarms add an element of danger in the nation's 390,000 house fires annually, giving home owners a false sense of security.     If the person you love has a fire detector already, take time this Christmas to check it and make sure it works.

Time to prepare for severe weather Compiled by Stephanie Day Published Jan. 19, 2006    Bandera County Emergency Management Coordinator Ralph Dresser said that Feb. 26 through March 4 is “Severe Weather Awareness Week,” but that it is never too early to prepare for severe weather.     Information on every severe weather condition that can strike in Texas is available on the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management website at www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem. Protecting Bandera County residents from severe weather begins at a local level. Bandera County residents, as well as other Texas residents, need accurate information on severe weather preparedness.     Because of its location, straight line wind storms, downburst rains and tornadoes can occur in Texas at any time of the year, winter months included. Thousands of thunderstorms, many severe, rake the skies across Texas each year. Severe thunderstorms produce winds of at least 58 miles per hour and produce three-quarter inch hail or a tornado.     Most people fear tornadoes, but the hail and straight line winds created by thunderstorms can cause similar damage. Straight line winds, or winds in excess of 100 miles an hour, are strong enough to uproot trees and damage buildings. Downburst winds endanger aircraft and their occupants. Hail storms cause more than $1 billion a year in damage across the U.S. and can send ice crashing to the ground at speeds nearing 100 miles an hour, damaging vehicles and buildings and destroying crops.     Basic preparedness includes having a reliable source for weather information, plus a back up system in case the electricity is cut during the storm. Shelter areas should be designated in the home ahead of an emergency. Sleeping bags, thick blankets or mattresses can be used to protect against flying debris.     During severe thunderstorms, take the same precautions one would take during a tornado: seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor -- a bathroom or closet. Stay away from windows. If you are outside, cover your head to protect yourself against flying debris. If you cannot reach shelter, lie flat in the closest ditch or depression. If you are in a vehicle, mobile home or portable classroom, find a strong building for shelter -- but do not seek shelter in a structure with a high, wide roof. If you encounter hail while driving, turn around. You may be driving into the core of a thunderstorm where tornadoes form.     Floods claim an average of 15 victims a year in Texas. Nearly half of all flood fatalities are vehicle- related. Drivers often underestimate the power of floodwater.     Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, often causing a loss of control and possible stalling. One foot of water will float many cars. Two feet of rushing water will sweep away pickup trucks, SUVs and most other vehicles. Water over a road may hide missing pavement or a missing bridge. Roads weaken under floodwater and may collapse under the weight of a vehicle.     If your vehicle stalls in floodwater, get out quickly and move to higher ground. The best advice: when there is water on the road, do not attempt to drive through it. Turn around. Don't drown.     Sports fields are dangerous locations during thunderstorms. They are large open areas where event participants are the highest objects. Metal bleachers, fences, light poles and goal posts attract lightning and when lightning strikes, the electricity travels along the object and can injure or kill anyone who is in contact with the metal. Lightning can also bounce off these objects and strike nearby people.     When you hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. When you are outdoors and unable to reach a safe shelter, keep your body low to the ground. Move away from hills, high places and avoid tall, isolated trees. Do not touch metal objects including golf clubs or other sports equipment.     Do not ride bicycles or lean against fences or metal sheds. Do not lean against a vehicle -- get inside it quickly.     If you are outside, avoid wet areas. They can conduct the lightning charge. If you feel your hair suddenly stand on end, you may be a lightning target. Crouch low on the balls of your feet and try not to touch the ground with your knees or hands.     Before the next storm hits Bandera County, get your emergency supply kit ready. Keep supplies in a water-resistant container that is easy to lift and can be moved rapidly. The kit should include a first aid kit, cash (no electricity means no banks and ATMS), road maps, a battery- operated radio and flashlight with extra batteries, important documents and records along with photo identification and proof of residence.     Also stash a three-day supply of non-perishable food and one gallon of bottled water per person, per day, along with coolers for food and ice storage.     Include a fire extinguisher, blankets, sleeping bags and extra clothing, extra medications and prescriptions (along with hearing aids and specialized medical equipment), eyeglasses and sunglasses, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, duct tape, tarp, rope, can opener, knife, tools, booster cables and special supplies needed for babies and older adults or pets.     Remember to keep supplies fresh: change perishable supplies and water every six months.     It is never too early to prepare, but it is too late when the preparations are needed for a weather emergency.

Is your fireplace safe? Published Oct. 20, 2005    Most folks consider their fireplaces and chimneys to be indestructible parts of their home that require little or no maintenance. While masonry work is generally as close to maintenance-free as you can get, fireplaces and chimneys are more than just works of masonry: they are a part of your home's heating system, which must effectively exhaust fumes from your fireplace.     Relatively minor but regular maintenance efforts can help your chimney operate safely for an indefinite period of time. In the U.S., many people are poorly informed about the importance of basic chimney maintenance. This lack of understanding causes a substantial number of preventable deaths and injuries each year.     Beyond the safety issue, neglect of fireplace chimneys leads to very expensive major repairs that would not be necessary if the chimney were properly maintained.     The three most serious problems that result from poorly maintained chimneys are:     1.Carbon monoxide poisoning,-     Gas hot water heaters, gas and oil furnaces, fireplaces, and wood stoves all generate carbon monoxide. With chimneys, fireplaces and furnaces, most carbon monoxide problems occur because of improper exhausting of fumes. Carbon monoxide is deadly because it tricks the body into thinking it is oxygen. The body actually prefers carbon monoxide, choosing it over oxygen when both are present in the atmosphere, causing everlasting health effects.     2.Chimney fires, -     Another major threat posed by inadequate maintenance is chimney fires. As fires burn, they generate smoke. As the smoke rises up the chimney, it comes into contact with the relatively cooler interior of the chimney (the flue), where some of the smoke condenses, like steam on a glass of cold water. The resulting condensed smoke is called creosote. Creosote is a black or brown gummy substance that builds up on the flue. Once a sufficient amount of creosote builds up, it can catch fire. The resulting chimney fire can range from being barely noticeable to being so dramatic that it sounds like a low flying jet     3. Premature failure of the Fireplace and Chimney:     A third major danger from poorly maintained chimneys is failure of the basic structure itself. Chimney fires can damage the mortar joints and cause cracks that crumble further with continued "small" chimney fires. Even before the second chimney fire has the opportunity to penetrate the cracks caused by the first, carbon monoxide can escape the chimney and leak into the living quarters of the home causing serious health problems.     As frightening and fierce as the potential fireplace and chimney hazards are, they are almost entirely preventable. The Chimney Safety Institute recommends that homeowners who light fires in their fireplaces three or more times a week during the heating season should have their chimneys inspected and cleaned once a year.     Some people assume that because they don't have fires continuously during the winter, they don't have to worry too much about creosote buildup. This may be farthest from the truth. The colder the flue, the greater the condensation, so creosote buildup is the greatest at the beginning of a fire, in the time before the flue has fully heated up.

ICEing down an emergency Published Aug. 4, 2005    Following the terrorist attacks in London, a campaign is spreading around the world to encourage owners of mobile phones to enter an emergency contact number in their phone's memory under the heading: ICE (in case of emergency).     The idea began as the brainchild of UK ambulance service paramedic Bob Brotchie and was launched in the UK in May of this year. Brotchie, who is a 13-year veteran paramedic, said he was reflecting on some of the calls he's made and realized that almost everyone carried cell phones. "With ICE, we'd know immediately who to contact and what number to ring" in cases where a person is in shock or too badly injured to disclose that information.     Adopt the ICE advice. It will make it easier to reach a friend or relative whose input on a patient's medical history might help save his or her life

Wash it first! Published March 31, 2005    Cans and containers of beverages and foodstuffs are usually held in warehouses before being shipped to retail grocery outlets and those warehouses usually afford a home to mice and rats. Their droppings and urine can be fatal and often end up on containers.     A grocery store stocking clerk in Maui, Hawaii spent time in the storeroom and complained to fellow workers that he had seen dried mouse or rat droppings in the storeroom. A couple of days later, he became ill and went to bed with what he thought was flu. He died two days later. An autopsy performed on the clerk verified that he had died from exposure to the fatal virus that lives in dried rat and mouse droppings.     Always rinse off the tops of canned sodas and foods and wipe off pasta boxes and other food containers. Virtually everything purchased in a supermarket was at one time stored in a warehouse. And even if grocery stores are rodent free, warehouses are not.     The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta conducted testing on soda cans and found that the top can be encrusted with dried rats urine, which is so toxic that it can be lethal.     Just wash it before you drink or use it.     Everything.

Not too early to plan toward tornado safety by BCC Staff Published Feb. 24, 2005    Texas Severe Weather Awareness Week is March 6-12. Each new year brings a new potential for violent weather in Texas and Bandera County is not immune to tornadoes.     After a tornado swept through Pipe Creek many years ago, a young child who had lost his home and parents was found in a flooded drainage ditch by a telephone company worker. The child survived.     Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year, even December. They are most frequent, however, in the spring and summer. The most important thing to remember when a tornado is sighted is to get low and stay low.     Other safety tips in case of tornadoes include the following: Seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of the home (such as a bathroom, closet or room without windows -- a bathtub is good); In an office building, go to the interior room or hallway on the lowest floor; Leave your mobile home and take shelter in a nearby building. If no building is close, lie flat in a ditch or ravine; Never stay inside a car. Leave the car and lie flat in a ditch or ravine. If a building is close, shelter inside it. Never try to outrun a tornado in your vehicle. At school, follow plans and go to a designated shelter area, usually interior hallways on the lowest floor. Avoid auditoriums, gyms and areas with wide, free-span roofs. Go to the interior rooms and halls on the lowest floor of a shopping center. Do not leave the shopping center to get into your car. If you are in open country, take cover on low, protected ground. Avoid areas near exterior glass or doors, areas along exterior walls or rooms with wide-expanse roofs, such as auditoriums, cafeterias and gyms;     Learn the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning. A tornado watch means -- watch the sky. A tornado warning means that a tornado is on the ground and you must seek shelter immediately.

BEC Raises Safety Concerns After "Fear Factor" Bad Example Published Feb. 10, 2005    Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BEC) reminds its members and the public that electricity can be dangerous. On January 29, NBC ran a segment of the reality show "Fear Factor" that required barefoot, handcuffed contestants to work their way through an electrified maze as they received numerous painful shocks. The set was designed to look like a high-voltage substation.     "Airing this ordeal and labeling it as 'entertainment' was irresponsible and could encourage others to take similar unnecessary risks," said Dennis Winright, Member Services/System Supervisor. "Our goal at the cooperative is to make the safest possible electric environment for our members and the public. At a minimum, an electric shock is painful and it can also kill."     NBC emphasized that the stunt was designed and monitored by professionals and that the general public should not attempt stunts using electricity, but participants on the show were not confident they should be attempting it either. "This isn't right," said one contestant. After completing the maze through groans and gritted teeth, another contestant said, "I'm still shaking. I can feel that [electric] pulse inside my body."     Be safe around electricity. Know that electricity inside or outside your home can be dangerous. Take electricity with deadly seriousness:     1. Never allow children to play around electric facilities, especially power substations.     2. If you see a downed power line, it is an emergency situation, move away from the line and anything touching it -- call 911.     3. If someone is in direct or indirect contact with a downed line, do not touch the person. Call 911 instead.     4. Don't try to move a downed power line or anything in contact with the line.     5. If a tree or branch is touching an electric line, call BEC immediately.     6. Never trim trees that are close to power lines. Call BEC for help.     7. Don't allow children to climb trees or build tree houses close to power lines.     Bandera Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a member-owned electric distribution utility serving all or part of seven counties in the Texas Hill Country. The Cooperative is headquartered in Bandera with full-service branch offices in Comfort and Leakey. Internet users will find more information about electric safety on the web at: http://www.banderaelectric.com