Do you know what to do during an electrical emergency? Most of us don’t. Most of us have our own ideas of what constitutes an emergency. Some may think a power outage is an emergency, others may not.

An electrical emergency could be smoke or fire coming out of an outlet, hot panels or sockets, or even an electrical fire. Electricity is nothing to be fooled with, and we should all be prepared.

What to Do During an Electrical Emergency

If you think the problem you are having is an electrical emergency, then treat it as such. The most important thing you can do is to be extremely careful.

• Don’t Touch Anything

If there are sparks, flames, or smoke coming out of an appliance or a socket, don’t touch it. You can get shocked or even electrocuted. If someone is getting shocked, don’t touch them either.

If this has happened due to cooking or kitchen problems, make sure there is no water on the floor or anywhere near. Your safety is always the number one priority.

• Call For Help

Call for emergency services. They know what to do during an electrical emergency. If there is fire, smoke, or sparks, move outside to call. Keep yourself far away from where the problem is.

They will guide you on what to do until they arrive. They may ask you if you know where the main panel is and you may need to shut the main power off. If this is where the problem is, then make sure they know and don’t touch it.

• Cut The Power Source

It’s always a good idea to know what to do during an electrical emergency. It’s important that you know where your panel breaker is and be able to cut the power to the house.

This is vital whether the emergency happens inside, outside, or next door. Even if you don’t know which breaker is for which room, shut them all off. That will ensure you are safe.

• Extinguish Fire

If there is a small fire, then you need to smother it. However, do not use water. If you are on your own, get out of the area, turn off the main power, if you can, and call for help.

If you can shut the main power off, then you can use a fire blanket or water, but never use water if you are unable to shut the power off first. If you don’t know how to shut it off, or if you don’t have a fire extinguisher, leave the area.

• Turn off Power to Appliances

If you are experiencing a power outage, turn off all the appliances you were using. This will prevent them all from being damaged when the power comes back on, and it will help an overload of power when it comes back on.

You may want to cut the breakers, as well. This is important if you don’t have surge protectors. Once you have done that, check to see if you can find the source.

Final Thoughts

When it comes down to what to do during an electrical emergency, your safety is number one. If you are not sure what to do, get out of the area, or even out of the house and contact your electrician right away.

If you need tips for being prepared for electrical emergencies, please contact us here at Teague Electric. We can help you be prepared for any electrical emergency and keep you and your family safe.