Downed Power Lines
If you are in a car that has come in contact with a downed power line, stay in your vehicle.
If you are driving and come upon a downed power line:
- Stay in your vehicle
- Warn others to stay away
- Contact emergency personnel or the electric utility.
Never drive over a downed line. A downed line causes other things around it to become potentially hazardous.
Remain calm, stay in the vehicle, and call for help. Ask someone to call the electric utility, and a lineman will be sent to disconnect the power. If the power line is energized and you step outside, your body becomes the path and electrocution is the tragic result. Wait until the electric utility arrives to make sure power to the line is cut off.
Even if a power line has landed on the ground, there is still the potential for the area near your car to be energized. Stay inside the vehicle unless there is fire or imminent risk of fire. Be sure that at no time you or anyone else touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. You should never simply step out of the vehicle. If you must leave your car, jump free keeping both feet together and either shuffle or hop to safety. A live wire touching the ground causes electricity to fan out in a pool and the action of running or striding allows one foot to move from one voltage zone to another. Your body then becomes the path for electricity, and electrocution is the tragic result.
School Bus Safety
Educate children on bus safety before they leave for school!
The bus stop can be a dangerous place for children: bullies, speeding cars, and, electricity? That’s right, electrical dangers are everywhere! The things that seem like minor risks in the moment could end up being deadly.
“Children are very impressionable from a young age, so it’s our duty as parents, grandparents, or guardians to inform them of the dangers around them,” said John Gasstrom, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “Those dangers could even be at the bus stop or on their way to school.”
Keep these situations in mind when talking to your children about school bus and bus stop safety:
A lot can happen in the few minutes children are waiting for the bus. Children are curious by nature and like to explore. For instance, your child could climb up a nearby tree or electrical pole and accidentally touch a power line. This could be a fatal mistake so make sure your child knows the dangers.
Children might view these green boxes as playground equipment, perfect for climbing and playing on. So, warn your kids to not put their fingers, sticks, or other objects through cracks in a transformer, and explain to them why they should never touch or go near areas where they see hazard stickers.
If their school bus was ever in an accident involving power lines, what would they do? First, assume that the lines are still energized (which means it’s still dangerous). They should remain on the bus as the driver calls 911. If your child must exit the vehicle, advise him or her to always listen for instructions from first responders or the bus driver.
In an emergency, your child may need to jump out of the vehicle, with both feet together, avoiding contact with the bus and the ground at the same time. Then, he or she should shuffle away with small steps, keeping both feet together and on the ground at all times. This will reduce the risk of electrical shock or electrocution. Take the opportunity to practice this with your child, even if it’s just from your own vehicle.
Talking to your kids about scary situations can sometimes be difficult but having continuous and proactive conversations is a great way to help them remember when the time comes. You might not think they’re listening in the moment, but when they’re in a tough situation, you want to be that voice inside their heads reminding them to be safe.
- Don’t play near or around power lines or poles while waiting for the bus.
- Don’t climb trees nearby your bus stop – you could accidentally touch a power line.
- Do remind other kids nearby of electrical dangers if you see them in a dangerous situation.
- Don’t climb on pad-mount transformers (those big green boxes) or other electrical equipment.
- Don’t put your fingers, sticks, or other objects through cracks in a transformer.
- Don’t go near areas where you see hazard stickers.
- Do tell a parent, teacher, or someone from your local electric cooperative if you see a broken lock on a transformer.
- Do listen to your bus driver or first responders if you’re in an accident involving a power line.
- Don’t exit the bus until an adult tells you to, if it is an emergency.
- In that case, Do jump away from the bus, landing on both feet and shuffling away from danger.