DANGER FROM LIVE WIRES.

Shannon News, 7 October 1924, Page 3

DANGER FROM LIVE WIRES.

EXPLAINED BY ; POWER BOARD engineer. METHODS OF RESTORATION. As tile result .of the accident at the Horbwhen.ua Power Board’s Levin s un-station on Saturday -enquiries were made from 0e Board's engineer (Mr T. Overton). By a “Chronicle" representative this morning as to the extent of the danger iroin live wires to the average individual. The only serious source 01 danger, it was pointed .out, was~frQm nays climbing me poles. Along the main service line from Shannon which passes through Fairfield., and along. Bartholomew, and Tiro Tiro Roads, the three top wireg are ol II.QOO voltage. To touch these would result In instantaneous death. On aljt the dther lines tlie voltage is 230, and Mr Overton pointed out, it was. strangely enougn, with these lower tension wires tiuu the greater number of accidents occurred. To touch one ox these lines would not he- necessarily latal, although it the connection was not oroken in time, such would probably be the result.

For practical. purposes it might be sale, to say that accidents irom this source result. Rom a wire coming down, irom tlie pole and being carelessly caught by some person. In such a case the first tiling to do is to break tlie connection, as the person touching the wire is unable tQ let go. The danger to 'the rescuer is that if Care is not exercised, a further connection will be maae through him to fhe ground. The fiifet thing to do is to stand on a board or a i.oat thrown on the ground will do,, and to grasp the person to he pulled away from the wire by the clothes. Where unconsciousness has occurred artificial respiration should be immediately resorted to, the system found satislactory in cases of drowning being effective. Medical attention should, immediately be summoned. In the accident at the substation on Saturday, this system of artificial respiration was adopted, every man employed, on wiring by the Board being instructed m the method, with the result that consciousness had been restored before-the medical man arrived.

The precaution against accident is to avoid at any time, touching any cable which may have fallen down or otherwise. Should such be found, tire/ Board’s staff should immediately be communicated with. Also whenever a shock is received from any connection ' whatever, the Board should be notified, as this is a certain indication of a faulty system. In conclusion, Mr Overton pointed out that the risk of accident was really extremely slight, and that the danger was in the case of children who might not understand the result of touching a wire. At the same time he was emphatic that too much attention could not be directed to the fact , that danger did exist and that all parents would be advised to warn their children against interfering in any way with wires or touching one in the unlikely contingency of its' becoming disconnected from the insulator.