During spring storm season vehicle accidents
are common on rain slick roads. Instincts tell us to flee
danger. Unfortunately, in vehicle accidents that bring down power lines, these
natural inclinations can lead to tragic results.
If your car hits a power pole, or otherwise
brings a power line down, Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and Safe
Electricity urge you to stay inside the vehicle until help arrives. Getting out
of the vehicle, with few exceptions, is the wrong thing to do until the line has
been de-energized.
According to Molly Hall, Executive Director
of the Safe Electricity program, you are almost always better off to stay in the
car, especially if the line is in contact with the vehicle.If the power line is
still energized and you step outside, your body becomes the path for that
electricity and electrocution is the tragic result.
It’s best to wait until the electric
utility crew arrives to make sure power to the line is cut off.
The only exception would be if fire or other
danger, like the smell of gasoline, is present. In that case, the proper action
is to jump – not step – with both feet hitting the ground at the same time.
Jump clear, without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Shuffle or
hop to safety keeping both feet together as you leave the area. Like the ripples
in a pond or lake, the voltage diminishes the farther out it is from the source.
Stepping from one voltage level to another allows the body to become a path for
that electricity.
Even if a power line has landed on the
ground, there is still the potential for the area near your car to be energized.
Stay inside the vehicle unless there’s fire or imminent risk of fire.
The same rules apply to situations involving
large farm and construction equipment that comes in contact with overhead lines.
Those working with large equipment should
stay inside the cab or remain on the vehicle if equipment extensions come in
contact with power lines.
Warn others who may be nearby to stay away
and wait until the electric utility arrives to make sure power to the line is
cut off. While driving, if you encounter a down wire on the road, always assume
it is an electrical wire and energized, and stay in your car. If you come upon,
or witness an accident involving toppled power poles and lines, don’t leave
your vehicle to approach the accident scene.
Often our inclination is to step in and help
those in danger and offer assistance to the injured. But, in accidents involving
power poles call for help and wait for trained assistance to arrive, or you
could become an additional victim in need of rescue.
For more information on electric safety click
on the “other links” icon or visit www.safeelectricity.org
directly.