Current Light Flashes

Storms, animals, and car accidents can damage utility equipment such as power lines, poles and pad mount transformers. This causes inconveniences like service interruptions and road closures and creates life-threatening situations when energy invisibly spreads like ripples on a pond.

Imagine a stone dropping into a calm pond. As the stone hits the water, it creates a series of ripples that spread outward in circles, moving away from the point of impact. Just as ripples in a pond travel outward, the electrical current moves through conducting material - like wires, metal, or even the air in the case of lightning. The movement of electrons carries energy with it, much like the ripples transferring energy through the water. Here's
what can happen when electrical equipment is damaged:

• Step potential happens when a person walks from one voltage "ripple" to another and their feet experience a difference in voltage.
• Touch potential happens when someone touches something at one voltage and steps on or contacts something else at a different voltage.

Both types of potential can cause serious internal and external injuries and death, since electric current enters the body at one point and exits at another.

How to stay safe

Take precautions near downed power lines, poles, or other damaged equipment. Always assume damaged equipment is energized even if it looks lifeless and harmless and never approach it.

Besides accidents, storms, and animals, another hazardous situation can occur when vehicles or farm equipment gets too close to or contacts power lines. To stay safe:

• Stay inside your vehicle or cab.
• Call 911.
• Only exit if you see smoke or there is a fire. If you must exit due to a fire, carefully do the following:
• Cross your arms and make a clean jump out.
• Don't touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.
• Make solid hops with your feet together as far away as you can.
• If you are unable to hop, shuffle away without lifting your feet.
• Do not return to the vehicle.

Visit our website for more tips.