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Electrical emergencies can happen at any time, even in the most unexpected places. If you’re unprepared, they can cause serious damage to your home or business. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prepare for an electrical emergency before it happens.
In this article, we’ll discuss what is an electrical emergency and how you can protect yourself from it.
What is an Electrical Emergency?
Electrical emergencies can be caused by a number of things, including downed power lines, short circuits, and electrical fires. It’s important to know what to do if you or someone you’re with experiences an electrical emergency.
An electrical emergency is any situation that involves a threat to life or property due to faulty wiring, damage from an overload or overcurrent situation, or defective equipment.
Electrical emergencies can result from natural disasters such as hurricanes or tornadoes that cause power outages; equipment failure such as the sudden failure of a large transformer; or human error such as cutting through a wire while trimming trees or repairing an appliance.
Electrical emergencies are extremely dangerous because they can cause serious injury or death within seconds. In some cases, an electrical emergency may not look like an emergency at first glance but still be extremely dangerous — for example, when a wire comes loose from its connection point inside an electrical box.
Common Types of Electrical Emergencies and How to Deal with Them
1. Power Outages
Power outages can occur for a number of reasons:
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Storms – Severe weather can result in an outage. Downed utility poles and wires may remain energized even when homes lose power. Stay at least 35 feet from a fallen line and anything it touches—farther in wet conditions—and keep people and pets back. Call 911 and the utility from a safe location. Do not touch or move any line or contacted object; wait for utility or authorized crews to say the area is safe.
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Accidents – Power lines carry large amounts of electricity. When they’re broken or damaged during an accident such as a vehicle collision with a utility pole, they may not only cause fires but also possibly electrocute anyone who comes into contact with them while they’re live (not yet deactivated).
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Equipment failure – A malfunction in a transformer, control panel, substation, or other utility equipment can cause a local outage or interrupt service across a wider area. Backup systems vary by utility and equipment, and their presence does not make damaged equipment safe to approach.
Keep people away from smoke, heat, arcing, exposed wiring, unusual odors, or visibly damaged equipment. Report the outage or equipment failure to the utility. Call 911 from a safe place if there is fire, sparking, injury, or another immediate danger. Do not enter a restricted area or attempt a repair.
The utility can address its lines and equipment; a qualified electrician can address customer-owned wiring after utility hazards are cleared.
2. Electrical Fires and Smoke
If smoke or fire is coming from an electrical appliance, alert everyone and leave the building immediately. Do not delay evacuation to reach a circuit breaker, contact the utility, move the appliance, or fight the fire.
Close doors behind you if you can do so while leaving, keep everyone outside, and call 911 from a safe location. Do not re-enter. Use a fire extinguisher only if you have been trained, the fire is small and contained, there is no hazardous smoke, everyone else has left, emergency services have been called, and you have a clear escape route.
3. Shocks And Electrocution
An electrical shock is the immediate flow of electricity through your body. It can cause burns, muscle spasms, and even death.
To avoid electrocution:
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Avoid touching any electrical wires that are exposed or wet.
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Unplug appliances only if the plug and area are dry and undamaged. Avoid electrical work near water.
If someone is shocked:
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Call 911 immediately and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
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Do not touch the person or electrical source while current may still be present.
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Disconnect power only if you can do so safely. Then give first aid or CPR after the scene is safe.
4. Damaged Electrical Outlets
When it comes to electrical emergencies, one of the most common places you’ll find them is with damaged electrical outlets. This can happen in several ways:
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If you’ve installed new outlets and didn’t realize that your wires were corroded or faulty, then one of the screws may have come loose while you were working. This can cause heat and sparks when you plug something in, which could result in damage to the outlet itself or serious injury.
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If an object fell into an outlet and got stuck there, it can cause a short circuit that also causes damage to your home’s wiring system as well as a potential injury under certain conditions.
5. Downed Power Lines
If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized. Stay at least 35 feet away—farther in wet conditions—and keep people and pets back. Do not touch the line or any nearby object it contacts. Call 911 and the utility from a safe location. Wait for trained crews to say it is safe.
6. Handle Appliances Safely During Outages
During an outage, do not touch appliances, plugs, cords, or outlets that are wet, damaged, hot, smoking, or sparking. From a dry, safe location, unplug a cord-connected appliance only if you can reach its plug safely. Never pull a cord or touch exposed wiring. Leave damaged, hardwired, under-counter, or inaccessible equipment in place.
Call 911 for immediate danger, the utility for a service issue, or an electrician for customer-owned equipment.
Do not move or touch hardwired or under-counter appliances during an electrical emergency. Leave the area, call 911 for immediate danger, and let an electrician make them safe.
For fire, smoke, sparking, shock, injury, or immediate danger, leave the area and call 911. Contact the utility for downed lines or service problems, and an electrician for customer-owned wiring after it is safe.