Auto Crash Into Power Pole?

A few months ago, I read an article in a local magazine that asked this question: "Do you know what to do if you crash into an electric utility pole?"

Well, I didn't know. I told my husband and other family members because you just never know when you might be involved in a freak accident.

I thought I'd share the information online too in the form of a list.

1. Always, always think of a power line or other electrical equipment as LIVE—meaning it can kill you.

2. If you crash into a power pole and the power line falls on your car, there may or may not be fire. If there is NO fire, the safest thing to do is stay inside your car and call 911. You never know if a live wire may be laying on the ground. Don't exit your car until help arrives.

3. If passersby run to your car, tell them to stay away until help arrives. They may inadvertently receive serious electrical shock in trying to get to you.

4. Don't touch anything metal inside your car because electricity might be flowing through the frame of your car and along the ground.

4. If the accident caused a fire, then you need to leave the car, but do it this way. Open the car door, rotate your body so you're facing out. Place both feet at the same time on the running board if you have one, or on the bottom edge of the door frame. Jump out, making sure both feet leave the running board or door frame at the same time. Make sure you land with both feet on the ground at the same time.

5. When you jump out, be sure no part of your body or clothes touches the ground AND the car at the same time.

6. In getting away from the car, you have 2 options. Option #1—Shuffle step which means keep both feet in contact with the ground, sliding your feet along to maintain contact with the ground. Option #2—Jump away, making sure both feet leave the ground and land on the ground at the same time. Shuffling or jumping decreases the risk of electrical shock.

7. If you see an accident where someone has hit a utility pole, do NOT approach their vehicle. Call 911 and shout instructions to the driver.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I never thought about any of this before. It's a scary scenario which is why I wanted to spread the word about it. Be sure and pass this information on to your family and friends.

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