Dear Editor:
The last few months have bought some extreme weather conditions to the State of New Jersey and the territory in which PSE&G serves its customers. Tornadoes, hurricanes and wind storms seem to be the norm of late. Unfortunately, a consequence of such weather can be downed poles, trees and wires. With winter fast approaching, we may well see heavy snows and ice, which can also bring down wires.
With this in mind PSE&G offers the following hints and tips on how to deal with downed wires:
It is important to remember that wires installed on utility poles carry electricity. When wires are down, they are dangerous – electricity can still flow through them. Never assume that downed power lines are not energized as they still could be “live.”
Stay at least 10 feet away from all downed wires – and keep others from going near them as well. Call PSE&G at 1-800-436-7734 or the police or fire department immediately.
Any wire on the ground or hanging from a pole must be considered to be live. Telephone and cable TV wires may be entangled with electric wires and must also be treated as live.
Be especially careful when driving or parking a vehicle near downed wires. If downed wires are in the street, near the curb, or on the sidewalk, use extreme caution. Never drive over downed power lines. Even if not energized, they can become entangled in your vehicle.
In the event that a wire comes down on a vehicle with passengers, our advice is to stay in the vehicle until professional help arrives to safely remove you from the vehicle. If you must get out of the vehicle because of fire or other life-threatening hazards, jump clear of the vehicle so that you do not touch any part of the car and the ground at the same time. Jump as far as possible away from the vehicle with both feet landing on the ground at the same time. Once you clear the vehicle, shuffle away, with both feet on the ground, or hop away, with both feet landing on the ground at the same time. Do not run away from the vehicle as the electricity forms rings of different voltages. Running may cause your legs to “bridge” current from a higher ring to a lower voltage ring. This could result in a shock. Get a safe distance away.
Never use water on an electric fire, burning vehicle or wire, or extend a pole or stick that can allow a path through which the electricity can travel. Our human instinct is to reach out to help, but touching an individual who has been energized also provides a path for the electricity to travel. Call 911 for help immediately.
Do not attempt to cut or remove a tree that is or could become entangled with power lines. Contact PSE&G for assistance and wait for a professional tree removal crew to do the job.
Look up! Always examine your surroundings for power lines locations before doing any outside work.
Do not throw objects up into power lines, this can cause short circuits that could result in injuries. This includes items you might not consider conductive, such as ropes and strings.
Teach children never to play around electric equipment and never to touch power lines. They could be seriously injured or killed if they touch live electrical equipment.
The bottom line; never go near or touch an electrical wire. Never go near or touch anything or anyone that has come in contact with an electrical wire.
To report a downed wire, call 1-800-436-PSEG and tell PSE&G the nearest cross street or the number of a nearby pole that has not been damaged and is away from any downed wires. The pole number can be found on the metal tag attached to the pole. For other safety tips visit www.pseg.com.
Leslie Cifelli
PSE&G Co.