Whether you’re talking about a home or commercial setting, there are many possible scenarios wherein you might have an electrical emergency on your hands. While the best way to prevent an emergency involving your electrical system is to ensure it is working correctly by scheduling regular maintenance with an electrician, even the best maintenance cannot prevent every possibility.
Call Emergency Services
When it comes to home emergencies, the first thing you need to do is to assess whether the situation is life-threatening. If anyone has sustained an injury or is at risk of injury, you should call emergency services immediately. If you cannot use a phone or the internet to reach emergency services, try to locate a neighbour or another location with a working phone as quickly and safely as possible.
Dealing with Emergency Situations
Whether or not you have successfully contacted emergency services in the case of a life-threatening electrical emergency, there are additional steps you can take to help the situation. Firstly, you should turn off your power supply to prevent additional injuries. Secondly, you should be careful not to touch someone who has suffered an electric shock.
Assessing the Situation
On the other hand, if the emergency is not life-threatening (such as when your electricity is out in the middle of a cold winter day), you should be able to assess and respond to the situation independantly. If no one in your home has sustained an injury and you are unsure about the severity of the situation, consider the following scenarios.
Most electrical emergencies consist of one of these things:
- Electrical Fire
- Electrical Shock
or
- Power Outage
- Power Line Down
If you are experiencing either of the first two types of electrical emergencies, you should contact emergency services for help immediately. In the case of an electrical fire, you should also use a fire extinguisher to put the fire out and attempt to cut the power supply safely.
Non-Threatening Electrical Emergencies
In the case of an electrical emergency that is not threatening, you will likely need an electrician to visit your home to fix the problem. In the case of a power outage, you can also try checking your circuit breaker to see if you can resolve the problem on your own. It would also be useful to check your home for broken wires or other damage if you are able to do so safely.
Fallen Power Lines
In the case of a fallen power line, you should take care to avoid the area. Stay at least 40 feet away from the problem at all times. Additionally, you should be mindful not to touch any objects near the power line, such as trees or metal objects. Contact your local authorities to inform them of the danger.
Electrical emergencies are rare but can occur in your home or your neighbourhood. Often, an electrical problem can be resolved with the help of a professional electrician. If you’re interested in learning more about electrical emergencies and electrical safety in your home, contact your local electrician.
