First Aid for Electrical ShockIf you believe someone has been electrocuted take the following steps:
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Look first. Don’t touch. The person may still be in contact with the electrical source. Touching the person may pass the current through you. 2.
Call or have someone else call 911 or emergency medical help. 3.
Turn off the source of electricity if possible. If not, move the source away from you and the affected person using a nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood. 4.
Once the person is free of the source of electricity, check the person's breathing and pulse. If either has stopped or seems dangerously slow or shallow, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately. 5.
If the person is faint or pale or shows other signs of shock, lay the person down with the head slightly lower than the trunk of his or her body and the legs elevated. 6.
Don’t touch burns, break blisters, or remove burned clothing. Electrical shock may cause burns inside the body, so be sure the person is taken to a doctor. Power Line Hazards and CarsIf a power line falls on a car, you should stay inside the vehicle. This is the safest place to stay. Warn people not to touch the car or the line. Call or ask someone to call the local utility company and emergency services.
The only circumstance in which you should consider leaving a car that is in contact with a downed power line is if the vehicle catches on fire. Open the door. Do not step out of the car. You may receive a shock. Instead, jump free of the car so that your body clears the vehicle before touching the ground. Once you clear the car, shuffle at least 50 feet away, with both feet on the ground.
As in all power line related emergencies, call for help immediately by dialing 911 or call your electric utility company's Service Center/Dispatch Office.
Do not try to help someone else from the car while you are standing on the ground.
Avoid Carbon MonoxideFor important information about the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning during a power outage, see Protect Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After an Emergency and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Fact Sheet (from CDC's National Center for Environmental Health [NCEH]).
Safety at Work During Power RecoveryAs power returns after an outage, people at work may be at risk of electrical or traumatic injuries as power lines are reenergized and equipment is reactivated. CDC recommends that employers and employees be aware of those risks and take protective steps if they are in contact with or in proximity to power lines, electrical components, and the moving parts of heavy machinery. More information on electrical safety is available in our fact sheet on Worker Safety in Power Outages or at www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumaelec.html.
Be Prepared for an EmergencyCDC recommends that people make an emergency plan that includes a disaster supply kit. This kit should include enough water, dried and canned food, and emergency supplies (flashlights, batteries, first-aid supplies, prescription medicines, and a digital thermometer) to last at least 3 days. Use battery-powered flashlights and lanterns, rather than candles, gas lanterns, or torches (to minimize the risk of fire). You can find more information on emergency plans and supply kits at www.ready.gov.
Inspecting for Possible Home Hazards An important step in earthquake preparedness is to inspect your home and its surroundings for possible hazards and then take action to lessen those hazards. Remember: anything can move, fall, or break during an earthquake or its aftershocks. The following is a basic checklist to help you identify and correct possible home hazards. Look for the following hazards in each room: ·
Windows and other glass that might shatter ·
Unanchored bookcases, cabinets, refrigerators, water heaters, and other furniture that might topple ·
Heating units, fireplaces, chimneys, and stoves that could move or fall ·
Areas that could be blocked by falling debris ·
Secure your large appliances with flexible cable, braided wire, or metal strapping. ·
Install flexible gas and water connections on all gas appliances. This will significantly reduce your chances of having a major fire after an earthquake. ·
Brace and support air conditioners, particularly those on rooftops. The typical water heater weighs about 450 pounds when full. In an earthquake, the floor on which it is standing tends to move out from under the heater, often causing it to topple. The movement can also break the gas, electric, and water-line connectors, posing fire or electric shock hazards, and can shatter the glass lining within the water heater. Here are two suggestions on how to secure your water heater: ·
Wrap at least a 1 /2-inch wide metal strap around the top of the water heater and attach it to wall studs with 3-inch lag screws. Attach another strap about 2/3 of the way down from the top of the water heater. OR... ·
Wrap steel plumber's tape around the entire water heater at least twice. Then secure the tape to two different wall studs with 3-inch lag screws. Securing Items in the Bathroom Replace glass bottles from your medicine cabinet and around the bathtub with plastic containers. Hanging and Overhead Items ·
Inspect and anchor overhead light fixtures, such as chandeliers. ·
Move heavy mirrors and pictures hanging above beds, chairs, and other places where you sit or sleep. Otherwise, anchor these items with wire through eyescrews bolted into wall studs. Or place screws on both sides, top, and bottom of the frame and screw these into the studs. ·
Determine whether the full swing of your hanging lamps or plants will strike a window. If so, move them. ·
Secure hanging objects by closing the opening of the hook. ·
Replace heavy ceramic or glass hanging planters with light-weight plastic or wicker baskets. Shelves, Cabinets, and Furniture ·
Identify top-heavy, free-standing furniture, such as bookcases and china cabinets, that could topple in an earthquake. ·
Secure your furniture by using: o
"L" brackets, corner brackets, or aluminum molding to attach tall or top-heavy furniture to the wall o
eyebolts to secure items located a short distance from the wall ·
Attach a wooden or metal guardrail on open shelves to keep items from sliding or falling off. Fishing line can also be used as a less-visible means of securing an item. ·
Place heavy or large objects on lower shelves. ·
Use Velcro®-type fastenings to secure some items to their shelves. ·
Secure your cabinet doors by installing sliding bolts or childproof latches. Identify poisons, solvents, or toxic materials in breakable containers and move these containers to a safe, well-ventilated storage area. Keep them away from your water storage and out of reach of children and pets. Inspecting and Securing Your Home's Structure Examine the structural safety of your house. If your house is of conventional wood construction, it will probably be relatively resistant to earthquake damage, particularly if it is a single-story structure. For information on structural safety standards and qualified contractors in your area, contact your city or county government office on community development or building code enforcement. The following suggestions will take an investment of time and money but will add stability to your home. If you want to do the work yourself, many hardware or home-improvement stores will assist you with information and instructions. Check to see if your house or garage is securely fastened to the foundation. (If your house was built before 1950, it probably does not have bolts securing the wood structure to the concrete foundation.) If your house is not secured to the foundation, take the following steps: ·
Using a hammer drill and carbide bit, drill a hole through the sill plate into the foundation. Holes should be approximately 6 feet apart. ·
Drop a 1/2- x 7-inch expansion bolt into each hole and finish by tightening the nut and washer. Beams, Posts, Joists, and Plates Strengthen the areas of connection between beams, posts, joists, and plates using the following hardware: Pay particular attention to exposed framing in garages, basements, porches, and patio covers. ·
Check your chimney or roof for loose tiles and bricks that could fall in an earthquake. Repair loose tiles or bricks, as needed. ·
Protect yourself from falling chimney bricks that might penetrate the roof, by reinforcing the ceiling immediately surrounding the chimney with 3/4-inch plywood nailed to ceiling joists. Learning to Shut Off Utilities ·
Know where and how to shut off utilities at the main switches or valves. Check with your local utility companies for instructions. ·
Teach all family members how and when to shut off utilities. ·
An automatic valve (Earthquake Command System) is commercially available that will turn the gas off for you in the event of an earthquake. ·
After an earthquake, DO NOT USE matches, lighters, or appliances, and do not operate light switches until you are sure there are no gas leaks. Sparks from electrical switches could ignite gas, causing an explosion. ·
If you smell the odor of gas, or if you notice a large consumption of gas being registered on the gas meter, shut off the gas immediately. First, find the main shut-off valve, located on a pipe next to the gas meter. Use an adjustable wrench to turn the valve to the off position. After a major disaster, shut off the electricity. Sparks from electrical switches could pose a shock or fire hazard. Carefully turn off the electricity at the main electrical breaker in your home. Water may be turned off at either of two locations: ·
At the main meter, which controls the water flow to the entire property; or ·
At the water main leading into the home. (Shutting off the water here retains the water supply in your water heater, which may be useful in an emergency.) Attach a valve wrench to the water line. (This tool can be purchased at most hardware stores.) Also, label the water mains for quick identification.
Be prepared for additional earth movements called "aftershocks." Although most of these are smaller than the main earthquake, some may be large enough to cause additional damage or bring down weakened structures.
Because other aftereffects can include fires, chemical spills, landslides, dam breaks, and tidal waves, be sure to monitor your battery-operated radio or TV for additional emergency information.
After an EarthquakeInjuriesCheck for injuries. Do not attempt to move injured or unconscious people unless they are in immediate danger from live electrical wires, flooding, or other hazards. Internal injuries may not be evident, but may be serious or life-threatening. If someone has stopped breathing, call for medical or first aid assistance immediately and begin CPR if you are trained to do so. Stop a bleeding injury by applying direct pressure to the wound. If you are trapped, try to attract attention to your location.
Checking UtilitiesAn earthquake may break gas, electrical, and water lines. If you smell gas: (1) open windows; (2) shut off the main gas valve; (3) do not turn any electrical appliances or lights on or off; (4) go outside; (5) report the leak to authorities; and (6) do not reenter the building until a utility official says it is safe to do so.
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If electric wiring is shorting out, shut off the electric current at the main box.
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If water pipes are damaged, shut off the supply at the main valve.
Other Precautions·
Have chimneys inspected for cracks and damage. Do not use the fireplace if the chimney has any damage.
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Check to see if sewage lines are intact before using bathrooms or plumbing.
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Do not touch downed powerlines or objects in contact with downed lines. Report electrical hazards to the authorities.
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Immediately clean up spilled medicines, drugs, flammable liquids, and other potentially hazardous materials.
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Stay off all telephones except to report an emergency. Replace telephone receivers that may have been knocked off by the earthquake.
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Stay away from damaged areas. Your presence could hamper relief efforts, and you could endanger yourself.
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Cooperate fully with public safety officials. Respond to requests for volunteer assistance from police, fire fighters, emergency management officials, and relief organizations, but do not go into damaged areas unless assistance has been requested.
Evacuating Your HomeIf you must evacuate you home:
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Post a message, in a prearranged location known only to family members, indicating where you have gone.
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Confine pets to the safest location possible and make sure they have plenty of food and water. Pets will not be allowed in designated public shelters.
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Take vital documents (wills, insurance policies, etc.), emergency supplies, and extra medications with you.
Stock up now on emergency supplies that can be used after an earthquake. These supplies should include a first aid kit, survival kits for the home, automobile, and workplace, and emergency water and food. Store enough supplies to last at least 3 days. |