- Never touch any fallen wire. Consider every wire on the ground to be energized and
especially dangerous. Never assume a downed power line is insulated.
- Never touch downed power lines or use any object to move power lines, including
brooms, boards, limbs or plastic materials. Although wood is non-conductive, if even
slightly wet it will conduct electricity, causing electric shock or electrocution. Power lines
can also slide down such objects when lifted.
- Do not attempt to cut or remove a tree that is, or could become, entangled with power
lines. Contact your electric utility for assistance and wait for a professional tree removal
crew to do the job.
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- Never touch, move, or go near any kind of downed or hanging line, even if it looks
harmless. Getting near it could cause a severe injury or even death.
- Do not put your feet into a flooded street or even a puddle where a downed line is lying.
In some instances, wet or snow-covered ground can conduct electricity.
- Do not try to move limbs that are on or near power lines. Anything touching a downed
line may be dangerous.
- If you see someone who has been shocked and is in direct or indirect contact with a
downed power line, do not try to touch the person. Efforts to move an electric shock
victim could make you a second victim.
- If a power line falls on a car, you should stay inside the vehicle. This is the safest place
to stay under the circumstances. Honk your horn to alert passersby. Roll down the
window and warn people not to touch the car or the line. Ask someone to call 911.
- The only circumstance in which you
should consider leaving a car that is in
contact with a downed power line is if
the vehicle catches on fire; open the
door, but do not step out. Make sure
that you jump completely free of the
vehicle with both feet together to avoid
contact with the live car (metal) and
the ground at the same time. Hop as
far away as possible from the vehicle
keeping both feet together.
- Never drive over downed power lines.
Even if not energized, they can become
entangled in your vehicle.
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Brought to you by the Village of Sherburne Electric Department.
Adapted from material developed by the National Weather Service. |