Accidentally contacting a power line can be dangerous and in some cases, even deadly. WIN Energy REMC wants to help our members stay safe around power lines.
Keep a Safe Distance
Whether you are playing outdoors with your children or working on landscaping projects, keep a safe distance from power lines and other equipment your co-op uses to get electricity to your home.
Contact with electrical wires can be very serious. At all times consider a downed power line energized and stay away from it. If a power line has fallen on your vehicle, do not leave the vehicle until assurance has been made that the power line has been de-energized. Do not touch anyone or anything in contact with a downed power line.
If a power line falls on a car, you should stay inside the vehicle. This is the safest place to stay. Warn people not to touch the car or the line. Call or ask someone to call the local cooperative and emergency services.
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. If this happens, open the door, but do not step out of the car. You may receive a shock. Instead, jump free of the car so that your body clears the vehicle before touching the ground. Once you clear the car, shuffle at least 50 feet away, with both feet on the ground.
Like all power line related emergencies, call for help immediately by dialing 9-1-1 or call your electric utility company.
Do not try to help someone else from the car while you are standing on the ground.