Did you know May is National Electric Safety Month? Why does it matter? Simply put, your life matters. Electricity is a powerful force. If not used correctly, it can be life-threatening.
That’s why Oklahoma’s electric cooperative’s have teamed up to make sure you are wired up for safety! 642101506
Stay Safe During Storms
In Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains, we know facing storms and natural disasters is part of our lives.
Do you know what to do if a storm brings down an overhead power line or if a car crash causes a padmount transformer to become dislodged? Lines and equipment could still be energized, posing life-threatening risks to anyone who gets too close.
Severe storms can create potential electrical dangers, and electricity is something you cannot see, hear, taste or smell. It has been called the “silent killer.”
Storms are always ready, are you?
Protecting Those Around You
A dangerous situation took place in Colorado with a school bus filled with kids. They were headed to an FFA competition when the bus snagged a power line just as it was falling to the ground under the weight of snow. Could it have happened in Oklahoma? Absolutely. Always remember:
- Stay calm and stay inside the vehicle.
- Call 911.
- Warn others to stay away from the vehicle.
- Stay seated, and do not exit the vehicle until utility personnel say it is okay to do so.
- If you must exit the vehicle because it is on fire, jump clear of it with your feet together and without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Keeping your feet together, shuffle or “bunny hop” to safety.
When Power Lines Fall, Stay Away & Call
Electricity is a powerful force and should be respected. More often than we would care to admit, we don’t pay enough attention to it, unless we’re impacted by it. 181900700
Keeping you safe is 1 of PEC’s top priorities. When it comes to electrical safety, remember:
- It takes 50 volts or more of electricity to penetrate human skin.
- Contact of 600 volts or more punctures human skin at both the entrance and exit points.
- Electricity travels at the speed of light, 186,000 miles per second.
- When power lines fall, stay away and call! (Call 911 or your electric cooperative)
- Downed cable/phone lines could also be energized if a power line is in contact with cable/phone lines due to damages to a pole.