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We know it’s not something you’d like to ponder, but if you ever find yourself in the middle of an electrical emergency, it’s critical that you keep your head on straight. Electrical emergencies can happen at any time, for many reasons, and they can seriously endanger your well-being if you’re not well prepared. At Harrison Electric, your safety is our utmost concern, and we know electrical emergencies can be both frightening and overwhelming. To help keep you and your loved ones out of harm’s way, we’ve put together some tips on how to handle the most common electrical emergencies. Take these to heart—you never know when you may face a similar situation. 

You never know when an electrical emergency may strike, so it’s imperative that you take the time to prepare. Keep a list of emergency contacts in a highly visible area, such as on your refrigerator or on your desk. In the event that you are not able to make a phone call yourself, these contacts are useful for anyone coming to your aid.

In addition to emergency contacts, you should have at least one fire extinguisher somewhere in your home, preferably near an area where a fire is most likely to erupt. Ideally, keep an extinguisher somewhere in your kitchen, one in your garage, and one near your circuit breaker panel. These areas contain extensive wiring, and in the event of an electrical fire, you’ll need to respond immediately.

Electricity loves water, and since the human body is nearly 80 percent water, it conducts electricity very well. If you find a damaged outlet or electrical wiring in your home, do not touch it. Most wall outlets deliver 120 volts, which is more than enough to burn you, or worse, electrocute you. Upon observing damaged wiring, immediately head to your circuit panel and locate the breaker that controls the offending room. Turn it off and keep it off. Call an electrician to repair the issue safely.

If someone you know has been the victim of electrical shock or electrocution, call 911 immediately. Do not touch the person or the power source that caused the electrocution as you risk serious harm to yourself as well. Try to keep the victim as warm and still as possible until paramedics arrive, as his or her body will likely go into shock from the incident. Depending on the cause of shock or electrocution, you should also contact your local power company to inform them of the event. If the incident occurred inside your home or on your property, call an emergency electrician right away.

If you experience a power outage in your home, immediately check to verify whether your neighbors have also lost power. If you appear to be the only home on the block lacking electricity, it is imperative that you call an electrician immediately. Isolated power outages occur for many reasons, all of which are extremely dangerous for the layperson to diagnose on their own. You may have a problem with the lines that supply power to your home, issues with the circuits, or problems with internal wiring—none of which you can properly diagnose without extensive electrical experience.

If you encounter a residential electrical emergency, call the experts at Harrison Electric. Our emergency electricians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week because we know accidents don’t only happen during working hours. For over 30 years, our industry-leading technicians have been serving the Twin Cities metro area, and we continue to deliver high-quality, reliable electrical work with a personal touch. Whether you need emergency service or routine electrical installation, contact our team today at 763-544-3300 to get started.