What Should You Do in Cases of Electrical Emergencies

Sydney’s Eastern Suburban households rely entirely on electricity - we cannot stress this enough. However, most families take their electrical systems for granted, ignoring the minor faults that build up and will eventually cause severe home emergencies.

If you have trouble noticing the faults in your electrical system, Sydney Eastern Suburbs Electrician can help you diagnose the problem. However, if you have any doubts, you can follow this practical guide on what you should do in cases of electrical emergencies.

Causes of Electrical Faults

If your switchboard experiences nuisance tripping, or you get electric shocks when touching metal appliances, your system might have electrical faults. 

This is typically caused by:

• Damaged appliances ‒ fuseboxes and insulation inside your devices can wear off over time, exposing live metal leads and increasing the risk of shorting and electrocution.
• Dilapidated cords ‒ wires that always heat up, deteriorating the insulation ‒ thus making it very prone to power leakage, especially when near moist surfaces.
• Water ‒ As you know it, water doesn’t sit well with electricity. So keep all appliances and extension cords from getting wet. Additionally, make sure there aren’t any leakages on your roofings since dripping water from heavy rain can make its way to junction boxes and switches.

You should seek a professional electrician to have electrical faults checked out. Trying to pry open and replace electrical components by yourself without proper knowledge and tools can only further damage your equipment or harm you.

Staying Prepared

Since most electrical wiring and junction boxes are hidden behind walls and the ceiling, finding electrical faults can be intricate. Moreover, electrical emergencies can happen during the most unexpected times. That’s why it is vital to keep a list of emergency contact numbers as well as fire safety equipment.

• Emergency Contact Numbers ‒ keep the contact number of a 24/7 emergency electrician and stick it on visible areas such as your fridge door for easy access.
• Fire Safety Equipment ‒ fire extinguishers should be checked and kept updated. You should also prepare medicine kits with burn ointments accessible in case of emergencies.

Emergency Situations

In the event of an electrical emergency, it is crucial that you stay calm and carefully assess the situation. Contact emergency services as soon as you can and take decisive actions to minimise damage and risks.

Collapsed Power Lines

Electric shock from collapsing power lines can be severe or even lethal. If this happens to someone, follow these steps:

• Do not touch the power line or metal pole. If the electrocuted person is still in contact with the live cable, avoid touching them as you could get shocked too
• Immediately call emergency response teams
• If the person was severed from the power cable, move them in a safe area and keep them warm and adequately rested until the paramedics arrive

Appliance Shocks

Faulty appliances with metal frames can give you severe electrical shocks. These include toasters, hairdryers, or power tools.

In the event of an appliance shock:

• Do not touch the appliance nor the shocked person because you are most likely to get injured as well
• If the safety breaker or RCD doesn’t trip off, immediately unplug the faulty appliance and consider having your safety switch and RCD replaced.
• Call your emergency electrician and an ambulance
• Move the injured person in a safe area and keep them lying down in a relaxed position

Electrical Fires

Overloaded appliances and batteries that are near flammable chemicals or light materials can cause sparking and can result in an electrical fire. 

If this occurs, follow these steps.

• Do not use water to extinguish the flames. Only use electrical fire extinguishers if you know how to use one. 
• Stay away from the flames if you don’t know how to extinguish it.
• Immediately call the fire department and an ambulance if there are injured people.

Electrical fires are the worst-case scenario. Accidents like these can be costly and life-threatening. However, a small investment in regular maintenance can go a long way in keeping your family far from harm’s way.

Conclusion

Making decisive actions and planning against different electrical emergencies can have a significant impact on saving lives. But prevention is better than cure. That’s why you must keep your electrical systems checked by level 2 electricians at Sydney Eastern Suburbs Electrician.

We have level 2 electricians who are fully equipped to install electrical components such as smoke detectors within the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. Furthermore, we know where to look for electrical flaws, as well as repair and replace damaged electrical components.

Team up with our master electricians today and call us at (02) 8378 2827.