How to Deal with an Electrical Emergency?

Electricity is everywhere! In every home, office, building… even in Tristan de Cunha, deemed the most remote village in the world, there are schools and buildings, which function with the help of our good friend electricity.

As it is such a staple feature in modern-day living, electricity really gets taken for granted when an electrical appliance breaks down or when one error halts the flow of electric current in our humble abodes. However, having electricity also brings with it a plethora of hazards and potentially fatal hazards. Anything from a frayed cord, faulty appliance or an overload in current can cause a short circuit or spark, which can lead to something more serious.

Electrical Emergencies

Although most humans are intelligent enough to take precaution, some precautions do not prevent things out of our control from occurring. Common electrical mishaps include:

• Electric shocks
• Fallen power lines
• Power outage
• Appliance electric shocks

What to do in the Event of an Electrical Fire?

Electrical fires can be caused by storing strong flammables near a light bulb, a short circuit or some frayed or exposed cords on an appliance, which makes contact with water or some other form of electrical conductor and catches fire. Here are a few tips on what to do, if you ever encounter an electrical fire:

The first thing you should do is cut the power supply to the electrical system. (If the fire hasn’t fully started, then this procedure should be enough to stop it before it starts.)If you were unable to cut the power to the source of the fire, you should only use a Class C-rated fire extinguisher. These types of extinguishers contain carbon dioxide or dry chemical, which will stop the fire from spraying, as well as any electricity continuance running through.If you were able to cut the power, then a Class A-rated fire extinguisher can be used, which is water-based. This will put out the fire, but should lower the risk of electrocution as the electrical source has been shut down.As a general rule, we don’t recommend using water to put out the fire as this could further fuel it.Call the fire brigade immediately. If someone has been injured, call for an ambulance.If you cannot control the fire, exit the building as quickly and calmly as possible before calling the relevant authorities. Remember to keep close to the ground to avoid smoke inhalation and stop, drop and roll if your clothing catches on fire.

Prevention is Better than Cure

That old adage works for everything…including electrical emergencies!

Make sure that you are prepared for any electrical emergencies that might arise. Simple steps to prevent such fires are even more important. Avoid electrical fires by keeping flammable materials away from outlets, especially outlets currently in use. If you are using a power strip, be sure not to overload the strip or connect a string of strips together. You may also consider using surge protectors to help protect your electronics from overheating due to a power surge.

Your 24 Hour Electrician

If you are looking for an electrical repair service, Emergency Electrician London 365 are on-hand to help any time. Here at Emergency Electrician London 365, we have a solid base of NIC EIC-qualified 24-hour electricians who are available to come out 365 days of the year. Benefits of using us are:

• We have a 1-hour response time
• All our electricians are fully trained and qualified
• We take all electricity complaints and reports very seriously
• We provide both domestic and commercial electrical repair services throughout London
• Our quotes are transparent and unchanging, there are no hidden costs