Magician works to make accidents disappear

As he pulled out a hammer and saw from his magic box, Scott Davis asked the first-graders if those items are bad.

"No," the children responded.

"You're right," he said. "They're just tools, but you have to be careful with them."

During his annual visit to Aiken Electric Cooperative, Davis explained to the kids that electricity, too, is a good thing, providing light by which to read and powering up televisions and other devices. But electricity also can be dangerous, and children should never do anything with things like wall plugs without their parents' supervision, he said.

With a mixture of humor, good advice and, yes, magic, Davis met with about 500 first-graders from Aiken Elementary School and Warrenville, Oakwood-Windsor, East Aiken and Merriwether elementary schools earlier this week. His program, "Making Accidents Disappear," is intended to reinforce electrical safety and energy conservation.

"The program informs kids about the dangers of electric outlets, downed power lines and water around electrical appliances," Aiken Electric CEO Gary Stooksbury said. "We are proud to continue this community tradition for our first-graders. There are definite safety hazards associated with power lines. More than 1,000 people are killed in electricity-related accidents each year."

Accidents, not diseases, are the main killer of children in America, said Davis, who performs more than 300 live shows a year, including those sponsored by cooperatives in 15 states.

"Unlike so many other causes of childhood death, accident-related death is the one that is most preventable with proper education," Davis said. "And for driving the message home, there is no performing art that is more universally loved among children than magic."

East Aiken first-graders attend the magic show every year, teacher Tracy Holsenback said.

"They remember all the safety rules because the show is so entertaining," she said. "We appreciate Aiken Electric Cooperative providing this opportunity for the children in our community."

Senior writer Rob Novit contributed to this article.