Bonneville Power holds a fire drill
Car crashes are scary enough as it is, but when downed powerlines fall onto cars, the situation becomes even more dangerous. What can you do to stay safe in an accident like this?
Helicopters, emergency crews, and a power company respond to a mock-crash exercise Monday. This situation involves down power lines.
Every year, five to ten crashes involving power lines occur in Bonneville County. This is why the Bonneville Power Administration held a joint training exercise Monday to improve emergency communication.
Aaron Nelson, a firefighter in Idaho Falls, said the training helped him realize the true dangers of working with electrical wires. “It’s very good for practice, especially with lines over cars–because sometimes that’s one thing we don’t notice all the time.” said Nelson.
Not only are emergency services at risk of getting electricuted but the victims of the car wreck and bystanders can also be seriously hurt.
Harvey Haven, who had worked for 50 years at Bonneville Power Adminstration had some tips for protecting yourself if you are in a carwreck involving down power.
“If you are involved in a car-pole crash, stay in the vehicle until you call somebody or somebody can call somebody from the local power company to have that circuit de-energize” said Haven.
That way you won’t send the charge into the ground affecting the surrounding areas. In addition, bystanders of down power carwrecks also need to be careful.
“If people are starting to crowd around the vehicle and attempt to help you, you encourage them to stay away. because if they walk up and touch the vehicle they could have current flowing through they’re body from the vehicle into earth from their body.” said Haven.
And if the crash occurs near a housing complex, the power line could send up to 7,200 volts of electricity through the car or you. That’s enough power to burn right through a cantaloupe.
Bonneville Power says it’s been 100 percent successful in saving people from electrocution during carwrecks involving power pole crashes.
