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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