Imagine driving down the road and coming upon a car accident. Utility poles are down, and power lines have fallen. Would you know what to do? Your impulse may be to render help as quickly as possible, but when electricity is involved, the wrong action could hurt or even kill you and others at the scene. Knowing how to respond in this kind of scenario could save your life — as well as someone else’s.
Traffic accidents, high winds, severe weather and other events can bring down power lines within range of pedestrians and vehicles. Electricity can be an unforeseen hazard, particularly when overhead power lines have fallen and made contact with vehicles, the ground or anything that conducts electricity.
A fallen power line may not be sparking or showing signs that it is energized, but it could still be sending deadly voltage into whatever it is in contact with. Therefore, always assume that all power lines are energized, and never touch or approach them.
If responding to an accident scene involving a vehicle and downed lines, call 911, stay back and warn others to stay away. Make sure the occupants of the car stay inside the vehicle until the utility has arrived to deenergize the lines.
In rare circumstances, a vehicle may catch fire. The only way the occupants can safely exit is to jump free and clear without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Advise them to jump and land with feet together, and then hop away to safety.
An accident involving a fallen power line is not the only situation where electricity can be involved. Electrical accidents can happen in your home or in your yard.
If someone has been in contact with electricity, there are not always obvious injuries. These are the symptoms to look for: changes in alertness; headache; problems with vision, swallowing or hearing; irregular heartbeat; muscle spasm and pain, numbness or tingling; and breathing problems.
If you come upon someone who may have suffered an electrical shock, do not touch the person. He or she may still be in contact with the source. If there is water involved, do not get in the water. Make sure to call 911 immediately.
If it can be done safely, turn off the electricity at the source — the circuit breaker or breaker box. Otherwise, wait for the help of emergency responders. Once the source of electricity is off, then it is okay to check vital signs. However, do not move a person with an electrical injury unless he or she is in immediate danger.
Anyone who has come into contact with electricity should see a doctor to check for internal injuries, even if there are no obvious signs or symptoms.
When it comes to accidents, looking out for electrical hazards until an electric utility crew cuts off the power is vitally important for professional first responders, as well as bystanders who come upon the scene of an accident. For more information, visit SafeElectricity.org.
