Editor’s note: Following is the first of four weekly columns by Okanogan PUD Public Relations Coordinator Sheila Corson in observance of Electricity Safety Month featuring tips about powerline safety, padmount transformers, outages and meters. This information can also be round on the PUD Facebook page.
OKANOGAN - In the movies, a downed powerline sparks and flails around dramatically and it is an obvious hazard. But danger around powerlines is not always so obvious.
When you see a downed powerline, it won’t necessarily “look” like it is energized and dangerous. Do not hesitate to call 911. Even if you are wrong and it is either not energized or not even a powerline (they are often confused with telephone lines), that is OK. We would much rather get called to a non-hazardous situation and find it safe than NOT get called to a dangerous situation and someone gets hurt.
After you call 911 about that downed powerline, keep yourself and others safe. Never ever, ever touch a downed powerline. Stay at least 35 feet away from it – if it is energized, it can actually electrify the ground around it. If you find yourself too close, shuffle your feet away from the scene – if you walk normally, the electricity could flow up one leg and down the other.
Even better, though, let us work to prevent powerline dangers by being aware of the electrical infrastructure around us. Many of the injuries related to powerlines do not happen because someone simply finds a downed line – it is because they damaged that line themselves. Instead:
Next week: Padmount transformers
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