Your driving on what appears to be a dry patch of road when all of a sudden, you hit some black ice and your car takes a turn to the side, hitting a utility pole.  What do you do if a power line drops down touching your vehicle?

First, don't panic!

Look around and assess your situation.  Is there a power line touching your car?  Stay in your vehicle and wait for help to arrive!  If you are unsure, it is better to wait for help than take the chance.  Don't move out of the car until Flathead Electric officials have arrived letting you know that the power is off and it is safe for you to leave the vehicle.

When a power line falls and makes contact with an automobile, you are not a part of the electricity's path to ground.  Once you step out, electricity is looking for the path of least resistance to get to ground.  Our bodies are the perfect conductor for electricity.

If others try to approach your vehicle to help, warn them to stay far away from the area.  Ask them to call 911 and Flathead Electric to get help.  Electricity can spread out through the ground in a circle from a downed power line.  The voltage drops as you get further away from the point of contact.

If you must leave the vehicle due to a fire or other significant danger, JUMP - landing on both feet at the same time.  Do not let your body touch the ground and the vehicle at the same time or you will instantly become a conductor for the electricity.  After you land with both feet together, shuffle away.  Take tiny steps while touching the ground at all times.

Steve Bech, Flathead Electric's Safety Manager, teaches this and many other valuable lessons about staying safe around electricity.  He goes to schools to speak with fifth graders and he also talks to contractors about heavy machinery around power lines.  Call Steve if you or your business have questions at 751-4483.