What to Do in Case of an Electrical Emergency

One practical thing to do in case of an electrical emergency is to contact electrician services like Callidus Electric emergency hotlines for Las Vegas residents. Doing this is a much better plan of action than trying to tinker with electrical wiring and fiddling with circuit connections by yourself. However, electrical emergencies come in different forms, and you will do well to consider these simple yet important tips in case you find yourself in any of the situations below for your own safety. Kids whose’ school fire safety homework was done well known these essential steps to take in case an electrical fire breaks out. Let’s repeat them one more time:

Power Outages

Power outages appear to be relatively harmless among most electrical emergencies. While this is true in most cases, there are issues that you need to address in case the lights go out in your area. These steps will help you deal properly with a sudden power outage:

1. Look outside to check if the neighbor’s lights are also out or call them if the power outage occurred during the daytime. It is a good idea to have flashlights and rechargeable lamps to be ready for nighttime power outages.
2. If you confirm that the power outage is isolated to just your own home, check to see if any of your circuit breakers tripped and try to reset them. However, if you do not know anything about circuit breakers or if the circuit breakers are not the issue, it is best to acquire the services of a reputable electrician to fix the problem.
3. On the other hand, if the power went out in your entire neighborhood, call your electric utility provider to report the problem. Check whether it has scheduled a power interruption and ask how long the outage will last. Make sure to save or post the phone number of your electricians and power company where you can access them easily.
4. If you are unsure of how long the power outage will last, keep from opening the refrigerator and freezer doors as much as possible. Most food items inside your refrigerator should still be safe to consume even after three hours without power. Food items in your freezer should keep for at least a day after a power outage. Check out the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety information for more guidance.
5. Should there be any fallen power lines in your neighborhood, keep away from them? Always treat them as live and dangerous.
6. While waiting out the power interruption, turn off all the lights except for one. It is likewise advisable to turn off all unnecessary appliances. Do the same for the water heater if the outage lasts for more than an hour.
7. Check-in on your neighbors, especially those who have special medical needs.

Electrical Fires

There are several causes behind electrical fires including overloaded wiring, exposed cables or having appliances near flammable materials. Here are important steps to take in case an electrical fire breaks out:

1. Alert others in your home and get everyone at a safe distance away from the site immediately. Ask someone to call 911 if you cannot do it yourself for some reason.
2. While talking to emergency services, make sure to give them clear directions to the site of the emergency. Make sure to tell the emergency dispatcher if anyone is injured or is in need of medical assistance.
3. If you can still get to your power fuse or circuit breakers safely, switch the main power off.
4. Unless you have undergone training for such situations, do not try to put out the fire yourself. Under no circumstances should you use water to douse the fire.
5. Fire extinguishers fall under four categories in the U.S. For electrical fires, a fire extinguisher that has a Class C rating is ideal. However, if you don’t have enough training on how to use the fire extinguisher or how to put out electrical or kitchen fires, it is best to leave the site and wait for the fire department to arrive.
6. Check with fire prevention personnel if there is a need to consult reputable electricians to check and repair your wirings after the incident.

Electric Shock

Among the common causes of electric shock are exposed to electrical wiring and faulty appliances. The most important thing to remember is to resist the immediate urge to touch the victim and take the following steps:

1. Check if the victim is still clenching or touching the wire or appliance that caused the shock. If this is the case, pull the appliance cord from the socket. If this is not possible, turn off the main power to the house.
2. Have someone call 911.
3. Place the injured person on her back and tilt the chin up.
4. Check if the victim is breathing. If the victim is not breathing, apply CPR while waiting for help to arrive.

In cases of electrical emergencies, as with other emergencies, it is important to resist the immediate reaction to panic. Remaining calm will help you think more clearly and logically. It is also best to be prepared. As mentioned earlier, ensuring that you have emergency items like flashlights, fire extinguishers, and first aid training will help see you deal when caught up in such distressing situations.