Following the violent rains that fell in the town on Sunday 18 August 2024, the fire brigade was called out to two electricity pole fires and a case of electrocution, which unfortunately resulted in the death of a young woman in her twenties in the Yelwa district.
In view of these accidents and incidents of electrical origin, which could recur with the current rainy season, the following measures have been prescribed by the firefighters of the 30th Fire Brigade Group :
1 – Switch off the power supply before working on electrical circuits (changing sockets or bulbs, etc.);
2 – Never use electrical appliances (hairdryers, electric shavers, etc.) on a wet floor;
3 – Never try to approach or pass under/over fallen or sagging power lines, even if you are on a motorbike or in a taxi.
*Do not attempt to pass under / over fallen or sagging power lines*.
4 – Keep electrical appliances away from water sources ;
5 – Put electrical appliances away after use (hairdryers, electric razors, irons, etc.);
6 – Avoid contact with injured or bare electrical wires;
7 – Unplug electrical appliances to clean them;
8 – Avoid overloading sockets and extension leads ;
9 – Never leave bare electrical wires;
10 – Have your installations (sockets, switches, etc.) checked regularly by qualified technicians;
11 – Use quality electrical cables when installing your equipment;
12 – In the event of rain or a power cut, switch off your appliances and switch them back on 15 minutes after the power returns or the rain stops ;
13 – Remember to check the condition of your fuses and circuit-breaker regularly;
14 – Never fiddle with a damaged socket ;
15 – Use voltage regulators with freezers or fridges;
16 – In the event of a fire: do not use water and remember to close the door of the room concerned so as not to spread the smoke quickly to other rooms;
17 – If possible, install a system that cuts off the current at the slightest short-circuit (high-sensitivity differential circuit breaker) ;
18 – Make young children aware of the risks of electrocution and electrification;
19 – If you witness an electric shock, switch off the power at the circuit breaker and/or pull the plug ;
20 – In the event of electrocution, do not hesitate to contact the Eneo 8010 emergency service,
Also call emergency services on 118, 117 or 113.
- If, after an electrical incident, the victim is breathing, put him/her in the Lateral Safety Position ;
If the victim is no longer breathing, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
