Electrical safety training: “Always treat power lines as energized”

First responders in Socorro County gathered at the County Annex II for an informative live demonstration on electrical safety presented by the Socorro Electric Cooperative (SEC).

“Never attempt to replicate, duplicate or imitate anything you see here today. In fact, our mission is hopefully you will leave here empowered and have a far better understanding of how to save people, how you can perform safely and get back to your families in the event you encounter an issue with downed power lines or equipment,” Manuel Gonzales, CEO of SEC, said.

Gonzales highlighted incidents involving fatal electrocutions and took a moment to honor first responders who had lost their lives responding to incidents with live wires.

“Over 1000 fatalities occur every single year in the United States at voltages of 600 volts and below,” Gonzales said.

In the training, the SEC team of linemen used live demos to play out scenarios such as downed power lines, contact with live wires and the dangers of mylar balloons and tree branches touching power lines.

SEC linemen used dolls holding hot dogs to demonstrate scenarios where people could be harmed by energized equipment. Gonzales explained that the hot dogs were used to replicate the type of damage that could occur to the human body.

Gonzales cautioned that rushing in to assist can lead to more victims. He advised making a careful assessment of the scene and maintaining a distance of at least 33 feet from any potential electrical hazards. He also shared techniques for controlling and directing the individuals involved. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of communicating with the SEC immediately during any incident that involves energized equipment.

“Treat all power lines and electrical equipment as energized, even if they appear to be de-energized, and maintain a safe distance of at least 33 feet,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales said the cooperative is committed to ongoing education and is actively encouraging requests for more training events for all interested groups in the community.