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May 2007 That Reminds Me
Second nature
 Emily Schilling
Editor
May being Electrical Safety Month, we remind you in this issue to stay safe around electric lines, electric appliances and, well, electricity in general.
We write about electric safety frequently because quite frankly, information you read in Electric Consumer could save your life.
That information may seem like common sense. “Of course I’m not going to blow dry my hair while I’m taking a bath or fly a kite around power lines,” you may think. And we hope you won’t. But often, the way to ensure you won’t do anything dangerous is to be reminded of the risks over and over again until it all becomes second nature. Ideally, you won’t have to think twice about staying safe. It will just come naturally.
Recently, there have been a number of fatalities and injuries around the state caused by vehicles coming into contact with fallen power lines. Everyone’s first instinct when something like that happens is to get out of the car. It makes sense when you’ve been in an accident to get out and assess damages. But when electric lines are involved it’s the absolute wrong thing to do because you could get electrocuted.
If you must get out of the car — let’s say your car is on fire — it’s imperative that you don’t touch the car and the ground at the same time as you’re leaving the car. Jump clear of the car and shuffle or hop away from the accident scene. Your feet should be together. Keep an eye out for fallen lines. Once you’re safely away from the car, don’t go back until electric utility personnel arrive on the scene to de-energize the lines.
If you witness an accident like this, stay away and call for help.
I know these rules because we’ve reported them. I pray I’ll remember them if, heaven forbid, I ever become entangled in power lines. When accidents happen, thinking clearly is difficult. In that split second when I’m about ready to open the door, I hope I’ll have the presence of mind to remember the articles in Electric Consumer and stay put. When it comes to safety, reacting instinctively the right way could be the difference between life and death.
So, when you see yet another article about not using electrical appliances near water, or about not climbing trees near power lines, don’t ignore it. Take a few minutes for a refresher course in potentially lifesaving information. Those few minutes could be the most important in your life.
Written By: eceditor
Date Posted: 4/30/2007
Number of Views: 419
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