Each of us is very dependent on electricity. A teen only needs to think back and recall the last time his or her home lost electricity. The refrigerator and television were inoperable. After the batteries ran down, the computer and Internet were unavailable. Communications with friends were difficult. The refrigerator stopped working, and the family may have been unable to cook. As the day turned into night, one could only read by candlelight before going to bed early.
Clearly, electricity is an integral part of modern life. It is our most common source of energy. Teens need it to complete many of the tasks of daily living. Without it, life is certainly compromised.
When handled properly, electricity is safe. However, when used incorrectly or when unleashed in an electrical storm, it may severely injure or kill. Electricity has the potential to burn skin, destroy tendons and muscles, break bones, and trigger breathing problems and heart failure. The nature and form of injury is dependent upon the level of voltage and the length and type of exposure.
Faulty or damaged products frequently cause indoor electrical accidents.
One can take action to reduce the chance that these will occur. When pulling out a plug from the wall, one should grab the plug—not the cord. Pulling the cord could break the wires. No one should run electrical cords under a rug since walking on them can wear down the insulation and harm the wires. Cords should not be left to dangle where people might trip and fall.
There are other safety tips all teens should know. One should be careful with electrical outlets and never put anything in an electrical outlet other than a plug or plastic cap. In fact, it is best to cover all unused outlets with plastic caps. An outlet should not be touched with wet hands. And despite our reliance on many electrical conveniences, too many electrical cords should not be plugged into a single outlet.
Electrical appliances should be kept away from sinks and bathtubs. And they should not be used if a teen is standing in water or on a wet floor. When cleaning an appliance, the adolescent should unplug it from the electrical source.
Extension cords need proper use and care. They are a temporary solution. One should check the ampere rating and not use appliances that have a total ampere rating above the cord’s rating. As many adolescents are interested in home building projects, the tools usually need a heavier extension cord with a grounded three-prong cord. Extension cords that are frayed or cracked should be discarded. Teens should never place a live electrical cord in their mouth. It may produce a severe burn that causes unsightly and disfiguring scars.
Since the average home now uses far more electricity than those in previous generations, if one’s home is older than ten years, it may have insufficient or inadequate wiring. Symptoms of this include blown fuses, and tripped circuit breakers. Teens who experience these problems in the home should consult with their parents.
An electrical accident can be a dangerous situation. As long as someone is connected to the electrical source, that person conducts electricity. So, before helping someone who is connected to electricity, it is necessary to disconnect the electrical source. If that is not possible, then the victim should be handled with some form of insulation such as rubber boots and rubber gloves. Dry clothing and dry wood also give a degree of protection. Any situation like this requires experienced help, and teens should call 911.
When an electrical appliance catches fire, one could attempt to pull the plug out of the wall socket. Then the teen could try to extinguish the fire with a blanket, carpet or extinguisher. Never use water on an electrical fire, since water conducts electricity and may give bystanders a shock. Also one should call for help.
Adolescents should never touch a downed power line. One needs the assistance of a skilled professional who can cut off the high tension. The teen should dial 911 or the emergency number of the fire, police or nearest power station.
Probably one of the scariest manifestations of unleashed electricity is the lightning that appears during an electrical storm. Every year, about one hundred Americans die from lightning and hundreds more are hurt. The daytime hours during the late spring and summer are the riskiest, and these are the times that teens may be competing in outdoor sports.
Although no location is completely lightning safe, one’s chances of being hit by lightning are, in part, a function of where the teen lives and the type of life he or she leads. Florida has more thunderstorms than Vermont. Thus, people in Florida are more likely to be hit by lightning than those in Vermont. But, people who spend a good deal of their time outside are at greater risk than those who spend most of their days inside a building, such as a school or public library. So, if meteorologists are forecasting an electric storm, it is safest to remain inside a secure building. If one is planning to attend an outdoor event, the adolescent may wish to take along a portable radio from the National Weather Service (NWS). The NWS has a system of severe storm watches and warnings. When the NWS declares a severe storm watch, it means that the weather conditions favor such weather. A warning indicates that there have been reports of severe weather in the area and people should take precautions.
Fully enclosed vehicles, such as cars, buses, and trucks, also provide reasonable protection. If teens are on a school getaway when a storm hits, they may wish to seek protection in the school bus. But they should avoid contact with metal surfaces, which may conduct electricity.
How can one tell how far away the storm is located? One should recall the notion of “flash to bang.” After a teen sees the first flash of lightning, one should count the number of seconds before the thunderclap is heard. Then that number should be divided by five. That will give the observer the distance in miles between when the teen is located and the lightning. If a teen is attending an athletic event, it is generally advised to seek shelter if there are seconds or less between the flash and bang.
When an electrical storm is approaching, all teens should take a few precautions. These should be started well in advance of the storm and continued until at least thirty minutes after the storm has passed. Lightning may be a threat even when the sun is out and there is no rain in sight. One should stay away from high places, open fields, isolated trees, unprotected gazebos, metal objects of any kind, golf carts, and water (lakes, ocean, rivers and pool). If there is chance of an electrical storm, no one should go out in a boat unless is has a properly designed and installed lightning protection system. Corded or headset telephones should not be used if possible in an electrical storm, although cellular and cordless phones are judged to be safe. Some authorities advise against taking a shower, washing dishes or using plumbing facilities. It is also advisable to stay away from household appliances, televisions and computers. It is smart to avoid touching a conductive surface that has exposure to the outside, such as a metal door. It is also not recommended to stand near a window.
Suppose an adolescent is caught in an electrical storm and has no time to seek shelter? What should be done? One should avoid being the highest object in the area; instead one should seek low ground or a ditch. Alternatively, one could find clumps of shrubs or trees of the same height. One should seek to stay away from anything that might attract lightning such as a pole or a baseball dugout. In this emergency, the teen can place his or her feet together and crouch down. To reduce hearing damage from nearby thunder, teens are advised to cover their ears with their hands. If the teens are in a group, they should remain at least fifteen feet apart to prevent conduction of the lightning bolt from one teen to another.
Although figures vary, the vast majority of those who are hit by lightning survive. But some suffer permanent disability such as impaired eyesight and hearing loss. People who have been struck by lightning do not retain any electrical charge. They are safe to handle and may be administered CPR.
Related topics:
Accidents, deaths, first aid, sports
