You must always maintain proper respect for downed wires even though some may appear harmless. Electrical equipment requires the same respect, awareness and caution you would accord a firearm - always "consider it loaded." In situations where no emergency exists and human life is not in any immediate danger, wait for the local utility personnel to secure the area; they have the knowledge and equipment to complete the job safely.

Law enforcement officers, fire fighters or ambulance attendants are usually first on the scene when overhead wires are down -- usually as a result of storms, damaged utility poles or fallen branches. They need to be aware of the hazards and procedures involved in dealing with emergencies resulting from fallen energized wires.

Electricity seeks the easiest path to ground itself and does not "care" how it gets there. If you or your equipment create that path, you will be placing yourself (and possibly others) in a life threatening situation. In some situations fallen wires snap and twist, sending out lethal sparks as they strike the ground. At other times the wires lie quietly; producing no sparks or warning signals -- as quiet as a rattlesnake and potentially as dangerous. The first rule is to consider any fallen or broken wire extremely dangerous and not to approach within eight feet of it.

Next, notify the local utility and have trained personnel sent to the scene. Have an ambulance or rescue unit dispatched if necessary. Remember, do not attempt to handle wires yourself unless you are properly trained and equipped.

Set out flares and halt or reroute traffic. Keep all spectators a safe distance (at least 100 feet) from the scene. Electric power emergencies often occur when it is raining; wet ground increases the hazard. After dark, light the scene as well as you can. Direct your spotlight on the broken or fallen wires.

Remember that metal or cable guard-rails, steel wire fences and telephone lines may be energized by a fallen wire and may carry the current a mile or more from the point of contact.

An ice storm, windstorm, tornado, forest fire or flood may bring down power lines by the hundreds. Under those circumstances electric companies customarily borrow skilled professionals from one another to augment their own work forces. First Responders have their own jobs to perform at such times -- usually as part of a task force -- which lessens the need for individual decision making. But every first responder should be prepared for when he or she faces an electric power emergency alone and must make decisions about people, power and the hazards involved.

Remember that electricity from a power line (like lightening from a thundercloud) seeks to reach the ground, so it is imperative when working with fallen wires not to let yourself or others create a circuit between a wire and the ground.

In a typical power emergency a car strikes a utility pole and a snapped power line falls on it. Advise the car's occupants they should stay in the car. Call the local power company, but remember: Do not come in contact with either the car or its occupants. If the car catches fire, instruct the occupants to leap, not step, from the car. To step out would put them in the circuit between the wire, the energized car and the ground -- with deadly results.

If fire fighters are on the scene, they may be best able to handle the situation; most full-time fire fighters are trained to deal with electric power emergencies and will have the proper equipment to do so. If you must extinguish a car fire without the aid of fire fighters, use only dry chemical or CO2 extinguishers.

If the car's occupants are injured and cannot leap to safety, you may be able to use your vehicle to push them out of contact with the wire. If you do this, it is critical to look around the vehicle before leaving your car -- there may be another fallen wire behind you or a wire hooked to your bumper. If there is (or you suspect there is), leap from your vehicle.

Once a victim has been removed from the electric hazard, immediately check vital signs. If the victim has no pulse and is not breathing, begin cardio- pulmonary resuscitation immediately (and any other appropriate first-aid treatment) until he or she is placed in the ambulance.

In any rescue attempt it is essential that you protect yourself -- it is a truism that dead heroes rescue no one. Do not, under any circumstance, rely on rubber boots, raincoats, rubber gloves or ordinary wire cutters for protection. Above all, do not touch (or allow your clothing to touch) a wire, a victim, or a vehicle that is possibly energized.

As a first responder you may someday face the challenge of working with hazardous electric power. It's our hope this brochure addresses some of your questions. With knowledge, training and experience (and an on-going partnership with Bangor Hydro) your job will be made much safer.

For more information, please contact Bangor Hydro's Safety Department at 973-2868.