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Many times you hear people give
electrical safety advice that is not correct. These misconceptions
mean that people have false perceptions about when they are, or are
not safe around electricity.
We have compiled a list of some of
the most common misconceptions and please take the time to review
them. It might save your life and that of your family.
"Only high voltage is dangerous."
Voltage is the pressure that
pushes electricity along, like water through a hose. Amperage (amp),
the amount of electricity in any given spot, is what hurt or kill
you. It takes less than one quarter of one amp to put a heart into
ventricular fibrillation (irregular beating).
"When a wire falls to the ground, it automatically shuts off."
Often when a wire falls to the
ground, it falls on materials that are poor conductors like asphalt.
When this happens, our distribution system sees increased request
for electricity. Our system cannot distinguish between an increase
in request for electricity caused by a break in the line or because
many people in one area are coming home from work and turning on
their electrical appliances. Our circuits are designed to sense
short circuits - sudden requests for unusual amounts of electricity.
If this does not happen because the wire has fallen on a poor
conductor, our line will remain energized. Always treat a downed
wire as energized until ELMAR has shut it off!
"When a wire falls, it makes sparks."
A power line sparks if it falls to
the ground and does not make firm contact with the ground or other
material. When a wire falls to the ground and makes firm contact, it
will often make no noise or sparks, and will give the impression of
being de-energized.
"Wood is an insulator."
This is untrue. Wood is a
conductor, though not a good one. The molecules in wood are far
apart so it becomes difficult for electricity to jump from molecule
to molecule. But the higher the voltage, the easier it is for
electricity to move through wood. And if the wood is damp, it
changes the equation and wood becomes a good conductor, even at a
low voltage. So be careful standing on a wooden crate to turn on
your main fuse box or when you use a wooden ladder.
"Household rubber gloves or rubber soled shoes insulate."
Only 100 percent pure rubber
insulates against electricity. Household gloves and shoes are not
made of pure rubber. Often to make these shoes more marketable and
durable, additives are mixed in with the rubber-like material. And
that makes these gloves and shoes conductors.
"Tires are electrical insulators."
Wrong! Tires are in fact
electrical conductors. It is true that you are safe in your car when
a live wire falls on it. But that is because electricity always
seeks the easiest path to the ground. If you remain in the vehicle,
the path of the electricity will be on the outside of the vehicle;
through the tires, and into the ground. As long as we do not provide
a path to the ground through our body the electricity will not enter
it. So when an electrical wire falls on your car, stay in your car
until help arrives and the power is shut off by ELMAR. If you have
to get out of your car because of a life threatening situation, jump
out with both feet together, making sure that you are not touching
any part of the car when your feet hit the ground.
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