Outdoor Safety: Look Up for Power Lines
Things we see every day can almost fade from view. But failure to notice high voltage power lines can be a deadly oversight. Safe Electricity wants to raise awareness about the dangers of overhead power lines and the precautions to take around them.
Often, when we undertake outdoor activities, we don’t even think about power lines. Taking a few moments to become aware of your surroundings is a critical step to keeping yourself and your loved ones safe.
Follow these guidelines as you work outdoors:
- Look up and around you. Always be aware of the location of power lines, particularly when using long metal tools, like ladders, pool skimmers, and pruning poles. Lower your long equipment when moving it. Carry ladders and other long items horizontally.
- Be careful when working on or around your roof, installing rooftop antennas and satellite dishes, doing roof repair work or cleaning gutters. Never go up on the roof in bad weather.
- Be especially careful when working near power lines attached to your house.
- Never trim trees near power lines – leave that to the professionals. Never use water or blower extensions to clean gutters near electric lines. Contact a professional maintenance contractor.
- Never climb trees near power lines. Even if the power lines aren’t touching the tree, they could touch when more weight is added to the branch.
- If your projects include digging, like building a deck or planting a tree, call your local underground utility locator before you begin. Never assume the location or depth of underground utility lines. This service is free, prevents the inconvenience of having utilities interrupted, and can help you avoid serious injury.
Another instance when people often come in contact with power lines is through vehicle crashes.
When a car wreck involves a power pole, there is an added danger.
Knowing what actions to take to stay safe can make the difference between life and death. After any car wreck, it is natural for people to want to get out of the car. However, when the wreck involves a power pole, that is the exact wrong thing to do.
If there is a car accident with a power pole, the vehicle may be charged with electricity. If the driver or passengers step out, they could become the electricity’s path to the ground and could be electrocuted. Loose wires and other equipment may be in close range and in contact with the car—again creating a risk for electrocution if someone steps out of the vehicle.
While downed lines can sometimes show they are live with electricity by arcing and sparking, this is not always the case. Live power lines do not always show signs such as arcing or sparking.
After an accident with a power pole or power lines:
- Stay in the car, and tell others to do the same.
- Call 9-1-1 and wait until the utility arrives and ensures the area is de-energized.
- If there is someone approaching the accident scene, warn them to stay away until utility professionals and emergency responders have confirmed that there are no electrical dangers.
As a good Samaritan witnessing an accident, our inclination is to step in and help those in danger and offer assistance to the injured. However, in accidents involving power poles, the best thing you can do is call for help. Don’t leave your vehicle to approach the accident scene. Stay back, warn others to stay away, and call for help. Make sure the occupants of the car stay inside the vehicle. Wait for trained assistance to arrive, or you could become an additional victim needing rescue.
The only reason that a person should exit the vehicle is if it is on fire. If someone must exit the vehicle, jump clear of it with feet together and without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Then the person should bunny hop, with both feet still together, to safety. Doing this will ensure that there will not be different strengths of electric current running from one foot to another.
