Car vs. utility pole
May is electrical safety month. Learn how to keep yourself and others safe when an automobile accident brings down live power lines.
May is Electrical Safety Month, and to mark the occasion, the experts at your local electric cooperative hope you’ll keep these tips in mind to stay safe around downed power lines.
If a car collides with a utility pole, the vehicle may be charged with electricity. Anyone exiting the car could come in contact with thousands of volts of electricity from the downed line. In essence, when you step out of the car, you become part of the electricity’s path to the ground and could be electrocuted.
It’s critical to stay in the vehicle and tell others to do the same until emergency crews have told you it’s safe to exit the car. If the vehicle is on fire or you must exit for other safety reasons, jump clear of the vehicle. Do not let any part of your body or clothing touch the vehicle and ground at the same time. Land with your feet together and shuffle away (in small steps with your feet still together) to avoid electric shock. Keep moving away until you are at least 40 feet from the vehicle.
If you come upon a car accident involving a utility pole and downed power lines, keep your distance. A downed power line can energize the ground up to 35 feet away. While your natural instinct may be to rush to help, do not approach the car or scene of the accident. Tell others to stay away. Call 911 to alert emergency officials, who can coordinate with the power provider to make a safe rescue.
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See the Featured Videos section to watch “This might shock you” and “Car vs. Power Pole” for more information on what to do if you are in an accident involving downed power lines.