Know what to do in an electrical emergency

  You know the electrical safety basics like “Don’t use appliances near water.” But safety isn’t just about prevention. It requires knowing what to do when you or someone nearby comes in contact with electricity. Review this list before your next emergency:

• If someone nearby comes in contact with electricity, do not touch that person or anything the person is touching. Instead, call 911. If the source of electricity is an appliance, grab the plug – not the cord – and pull it out of the outlet. If you cannot safely remove the plug, turn off the power at the fuse or circuit breaker.
• If an electric wire falls on your car, do not get out of the car. You are safer inside your vehicle because electricity seeks the quickest path to ground – through the outside of your car, through the tires, and into the ground.
• Not all power lines are insulated, so they are never safe to touch. When a wire falls to the ground, it may still be live, even if you don’t see sparks. Call 911 and Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative if you see a downed wire. Warn others to keep their distance.
• Wood is a poor conductor of electricity, but it is still a conductor, especially when wet. Do not use a wooden ladder near a power line. If a ladder begins to fall into a power line, don’t grab it.  Let it fall and call SVEC.
• Only pure rubber is an insulator, and most household products aren’t pure rubber. Don’t try to handle electric emergencies at home, even when you are wearing rubber gloves or shoes.

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