What to Do When You Encounter Fallen Powerlines?
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: April 15, 2022
Table of Contents
Fallen powerlines can be extremely dangerous. If you donât act decisively, then they could cause injury or damage to the local environment. If you are walking down the street (or driving), and encounter a fallen powerline, then itâs important that you act correctly and as quickly as possible.
The chances are that you have never encountered a fallen powerline in the past, however, so itâs only natural that you donât (or wonât) know what to do. This articleâs got you covered.
Encounter Fallen Powerlines
Here is exactly what you need to do, step-by-step when you encounter fallen powerlines:
Keep Distance
The best piece of advice that we can give you is to keep your distance from any downed powerlines if you see them. The energy experts from GNB Energy say that a fallen powerline can be deadly.
Coming too close to one could result in you receiving a fatal shock. When powerlines go down and electricity reaches the ground, the ground can become electrified. You must stay at least 10 meters away from the power. The reason for this is that once the ground becomes charged with energy, the voltage wonât drop until 10 meters from the electricityâs point of contact.
Donât Touch
While it might seem obvious, itâs still important to mention that you mustnât touch the downed powerline with your body or any object. In the past, people have killed themselves by trying to poke down powerlines with objects. As mentioned previously, a downed power can electrify the ground.
While it is possible for the electricity to be turned off (and therefore the downed powerline wonât pose a threat), you must always assume that it is life. Just by looking at a downed powerline, thereâs no way that you can tell whether or not it is still life or not (unless it is arcing).
Saving Lives
Unfortunately, if a person or animal has touched the powerline and is being electrocuted you mustnât go anywhere near them or touch them. The reason for this is that you will most certainly be electrocuted by touching them or walking within the electrified zone. There have been countless cases of family members dying while trying to save their loved ones from being electrocuted.
The best thing that you can do is to phone the emergency services and hope that they can be saved. Trying to save a person being electrocuted will result in you dying, too.
Emergency Services
When you encounter a downed powerline, contact emergency services immediately. Donât assume someone else has done it, as this is very dangerous. The police will notify the local energy company to cut off the electricity supply, preventing injuries.
If you know the energy companyâs name, call their helpline to speed up the process.
Prevent Others
Ensure that others stay away from the downed powerline by shouting warnings. If people approach, increase your warnings or throw objects to deter them. For approaching cars, flash your headlights.
Shuffle Away
If you touch the ground near a downed powerline, shuffle away by taking small steps and keeping your feet on the ground to avoid shocks. Inform others to do the same and move at least 10 meters away without touching anyone or anything.
Stay Inside
If you are inside a car in an electrified zone, stay in the car and call emergency services. Follow their advice, which will likely be to stay put until the power is cut off. Only jump from the car if it is on fire, making sure not to touch the ground and car simultaneously.
Decline Help
Tell anyone trying to help you to stop, as they cannot assist without risking their own safety. Wait for the power company to cut off the supply.
Stay Calm
Remain calm while waiting for help. Panicking will worsen the situation. If your car catches fire, jump as far as possible out of the electrified zone without touching the ground and the car simultaneously.
Downed powerlines can cause serious injuries or death, so follow these steps to stay safe. Fortunately, encountering a downed powerline is rare.
Thank you for reading!
