Power lines bring electricity to your home or office, but touching a power line, whether overhead or on the ground, may cause serious injury or death.  The following guidelines will help you stay safe  around power lines.

IF YOU SEE A DOWNED WIRE, CALL 911 RIGHT AWAY.

If a person or piece of equipment comes in contact with an energized power line, or if a power line has fallen to the ground:

• Do not approach or touch the line or anything in contact with the line.
• Call 911. Inform the operator that it’s an electrical emergency.
• ALWAYS assume that all wires are energized.

Keep this Safety Fact Sheet as a handy reminder, and feel free to share it with your loved ones.

Other Safety Tips

• Beware of a downed power line touching a vehicle. Stay clear of the vehicle and the power line. If a power line touches your vehicle while you are inside, remain calm and follow these directions: If you can do so safely, stay inside the vehicle until emergency assistance arrives. Warn others to stay away from the vehicle and have them call 9-1-1. If you must get out of the vehicle for safety reasons, jump clear. Do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.    
• Never make contact with overhead power lines. When you're outside, check to make sure any tools or equipment you handle are well clear of power lines overhead. Your equipment may be closer to power lines than you think when you're: 
  
  
  • Trimming trees
  • Using fruit-picking poles
  • Working on a roof
  • Installing or removing an antenna or satellite dish
  • Using a long-handled pool skimmer
  • Using and carrying metal ladders
  • Moving a boat with a mast

For more information, please visit the Southern California Edison website at www.sce.com.