Electrical emergencies at home pose an immediate danger to your family Working with a local electrician, you can learn the signs of an urgent problem and prevent potential injuries and equipment damage. Our emergency electricians have decades of experience responding in minutes to emergencies throughout Central and Eastern Iowa. Within this latest post, we’ll guide you in building an electrical emergency response plan, explain what to do during an electrical fire or an electrical shock, and highlight signs of an impending electrical emergency.
Central Iowa Emergency Electrical Service: (515) 669-3418
Eastern Iowa Electrical Emergency Service: (319) 313-3313
What to Do In Case of an Electrical Fire
Use the guidance below as part of your family’s response plan in case of an electrical fire. Save the details on a device you will have access to during an electrical emergency:
- Cut the power.
If you suspect an electrical fire, cut the power to your electrical system. You can do this by flipping the breaker to the off position. Do not attempt to unplug the problem appliance.
- Extinguish using a Class-C-rated fire extinguisher if you cannot cut power.
If you cannot cut the power to the home and there’s an electrical fire in the home, use only a class-C-rated dry chemical fire extinguisher and direct the nozzle at the base of the fire before holding down the handle. Continue dispensing the water until the fire is out.
- Use a Class-A-rated fire extinguisher if you can cut the power.
If you can cut the power, you can use a water-based Class A extinguisher to extinguish the flames. Pull the pin, depress the handle, and point the horn at the base of the fire while holding down the handle. Continue dispersing the liquid until you extinguish the fire fully.
- Smother the fire.
Without access to a fire extinguisher, use either baking soda or a heavy blanket to smother the flames. Both baking soda and blankets help block the oxygen to help quickly extinguish the flames.
- Exit the building.
When the fire is too large to control and has spread from the electrical device to another area of the home, immediately and as calmly as possible exit before calling the local firefighters. As you leave, stay close to the ground to avoid smoke inhalation, and stop, drop, and roll if your clothing catches fire.
Steps to Take After an Electrical Shock
Older electronics without modern safety features can sometimes cause an electrical shock. Knowing how to respond when you or someone you love suffers a shock can help you act safely and decisively in the moment. Keep the following steps in a document on your device ready to use in case of electrical shocks:
Turn Off the Power
Turn off the power quickly when you or someone near you suffers an electrical shock.
Cut the Contact Between the Person and the Power Source
If unable to reach the power to turn it off quickly, use a wooden object to separate the person and the power source.
Do not Touch the Electric Shock Victim.
Electricity can pass through the victim to you if they maintain their connection to the current. Do not touch the person until you know there is no current.
Check The Victim’s Responsiveness.
Verify the victim’s consciousness and check their breathing. If you don’t feel a pulse, initiate CPR.
Call 911.
Even if the electrical shock injuries appear minor, seek professional medical attention after an electric shock. Burns can cause internal damage, and a shock can cause cardiac irregularities that may not be clear to those without medical training.
Document and Report a Workplace Shock
If given the all-clear from medical professionals, begin documenting and reporting the shock. For workplace shocks, contact a supervisor to report the issues. For shocks at home, advise all family members to avoid the area and call an electrician.
Creating Your Electrical Emergency Response Plan
An Electrical Emergency Response Plan is a document all family members can access in an emergency. The document should be secure, cloud-based, and available from all family member devices. Within the emergency response plan, include the following:
- All family emergency contact details
- All family doctor details
- Meeting places outside the home in case of electrical emergency, such as houses of other family members
- A floor plan of the home showing the emergency exits
- The steps on how to shut off electricity in the home and a map of the locations of the emergency shut-offs
- The location of your emergency response kit
What are the Signs of an Electrical Emergency?
Burning Smell Coming From an Outlet
If it smells like burning where you have something plugged into an electrical outlet, find a 24-hour electrician near you. Or if the outlet feels hot or warm to the touch. Unplug any appliances, switch off the outlet, and call an electrician to avoid an electrical fire.
If the outlet is burning or smoking or you smell smoke, call 911. Get everyone in your house out of the house and to a safe place and wait for the emergency crew to handle the situation. Contact a qualified electrician before entering your home.
Sparks
Occasionally, you may see sparks when plugging in an appliance. If this happens regularly or the sparks last longer than a split second, it may be time to call in an electrician. Sparks could indicate a system overloaded or an improperly installed electrical system.
Water Flooding
Calling an electrician may not be your first concern, but electricity and water do not mix well. If your home has flooded, a pipe has burst, or water has pooled somewhere, it can be a hazard. Do not switch on any electricity without having a professional electrician out to do an assessment. After you’ve had an electrical inspection, it will be safe to clean up the flooding in your home.
Tripping Circuit Breakers
If you have a circuit that keeps tripping, take notice. It may be that the circuit is overloaded, and some appliances will need to be unplugged, or it could indicate a bigger problem with your circuit breaker. If the circuit continues tripping after you unplug some appliances or if it is happening regularly, find an emergency electrician near you to have a look.
Power Goes Out
If the power goes out in your home but you see lights on at the neighbor’s house, the problem is likely with your electrical system and not a power outage. Contact the utility company first to see if everything is working on their end. If that is not the problem, it’s time to bring in an electrician to identify the problem.
Electricity Hums or Buzzes
Buzzing or humming sounds could be dangerous. This could indicate a ground wire has come loose or was improperly installed. An overloaded outlet can also cause a humming sound.
If it only happens when large appliances turn off and on, it is probably nothing to worry about. If the sound has started recently, contact a licensed electrician to assess the situation and see if you need an electrical repair.
Contact Custom Electrical Iowa for an Emergency Electrician 24 Hours
For electrical emergencies in Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and throughout Central and Eastern Iowa, call Custom Electrical. We have qualified electricians standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for service calls.
Our local electricians are licensed, background-checked, and professionally trained, so you can feel comfortable hiring an electrician from Custom Electrical Services Iowa for electrical work. We provide comprehensive residential and commercial emergency electrical services. Contact our 24-hour service electricians at any time for emergency electrical work.
