What Should I Do If I See a Live Wire

Downed power line causing an outage

What Should I Do If I See a Live Wire

After a storm, it is quite common to see a downed power line either on the road or near your own office. You should always be extremely careful near any wires on the ground. There is always a chance that the downed line is live and could cause serious injury. You should always assume that any wire on the ground is live or “hot” and proceed with the utmost caution. In this article, we will cover the steps you should take if there is a live wire near you. 

What To Do If You See A Live Wire Near Your Home

If, after a storm, there is a live wire near your home. Do not go near it. If there is a downed wire, you will want to call an emergency electrician to come to take care of it. Going near a live wire can be fatal if you are not taking the proper precautions. If someone was shocked or harmed by a live wire, call 911 and tell them what happened. They will need to send an ambulance to help anyone who was shocked by the wire. 

What To Do If You See A Live Wire On The Road

If a live wire falls on a car or on the road, you want to avoid it. If you see someone in a car and there is a live wire either on their car or near their car, you should not approach them. You should call 911 or a utility company. They can make sure the person is taken care of without potentially injuring themselves. You can tell the person to stay in their car and remain calm and that you have called for help. Make sure to avoid going anywhere near the car. Even getting close to a live wire can cause an electric shock. If a wire lands on your car, you will want to stay in the car and call for help. Leaving the car would be the most dangerous thing you could do. That being said, if it is dangerous to stay in the car for another reason (i.e. flooding or storm-related issues), make sure that when you leave the car you do not touch the car and the ground at the same time. Touching the ground and car at the same time would likely lead to electric shock as you would be completing the circuit. If you have to get out, the best method is to stand on the edge of the inside of the car and then leap out as far away as you can. 

Emergency Electricians in Boston

Cardoso Electrical Services provides emergency electrical services in Greater Boston, if you need help with an electrical emergency, please call our team right away.