Created in 1983 by two electric utility companies, Louie the Lightning Bug® has been promoting electrical safety to children across North America for more than two decades.
Since 1987, Detroit Edison has licensed the character to help the company deliver safety and, occasionally, environmental messages to young audiences.
Louie also is the central character in an important safety outreach program - Southeastern Michigan's Summer Safety Town Program.
Scheduling Louie at select corporate and community events is all a part of our giving back to the communities we serve. His presence serves as a reminder to children of all ages to play it safe around electricity.
For information on scheduling Louie the Lightning Bug for your community or company-related event, contact Carol Moore, 313.235.7012.
An interview with our safety spokesbug
Webmaster: What’s your normal routine when you’re visiting schools and community events?
Louie: The goal is to engage our audience and reinforce electric safety concepts – never fly kites or climb trees near power lines, never go near downed power lines, keep fingers and other objects away from electric outlets, and more. I perform inside classrooms and outdoors with my fellow bugs. When my audience is children, I provide coloring books so kids can take our messages home and share them with others.
Webmaster: Louie doesn’t speak at these events – but we appreciate your breaking this rule for this interview. Doesn’t your silence impede the messages you bring to these groups?
Louie: Not at all. I’m accompanied by an instructor who shares verbal messages about electrical safety. I get to be the sidekick, doing the gestures and fun stuff to help the kids react the proper way to the learning activities we present.
Webmaster: I understand you’re syndicated and trademarked. Does this mean you also have a secret tattoo?
Louie: With four hands, I might have a secret handshake, but that’s all I’m going to reveal here.
Webmaster: Ever meet any of your fellow Louies? You guys ever get together for a nectar after work?
Louie: Actually, I have hung out with a few mascots your readers will know. I participated in an event called Mascot Mania at Michigan State University, and we played basketball to benefit a charity organization. I got to meet Big Boy, Paws from the Detroit Tigers, Hooper from the Detroit Pistons, the Pillsbury Doughboy and other mascots from the Dearborn Sausage Company, Jet’s Pizza and Wonder Bread. That last guy did a lot of loafing on the court.
I can’t say that I’ve ever met a Louie from another utility. The’re located quite a distance away, and I can’t drive a car. With all my arms, I confuse other drivers when I signal for turns.
Webmaster: Any final words for our readers?
Louie: Well, since I can speak only in this story, it has to be “Play it safe around electricity!”
