Not a single person is insured against the possibility of being in a situation where, while walking in nature, he may encounter a damaged power line. In this case, one of the wires used in the power line may fall to the ground and be in direct contact with it. According to the safety requirements, which apply to electrical devices, it is prohibited to approach such a cable at a close distance. The fact is that as one approaches a wire that has contact with the ground, any person falls under the influence of a voltage called "step".
What does this concept mean?
First of all, you need to figure out what constitutes step voltage. It is understood as a potential difference that appears between two points (feet of a person) moving along the soil or a conductive floor with an emergency current spreading through them. The indicated voltage is valid only if the wire is connected to an active line (photo below).
At the same time, for one reason or another, protective automatics could not work, which should be known to every uninitiated user. If a broken wire is accidentally found, experts advise not to get close enough to it. According to technical calculations, it is considered safe to move within 8 meters from the point of contact with the ground.
How to get rid of danger
If a person saw the wire too late and has already approached it closer than 8 meters, he needs to immediately stop and, without taking his feet off the ground, slowly bring them together. After that, you should start moving in the direction opposite from the dangerous place, but not with the usual step, but with the so-called "goose" (the heels do not come off the ground). The projection of the feet with this movement is shown in the photo below.
Important! You should not try to jump on one leg, as not very informed people advise.
When jumping, you can stumble and fall, after which the current will flow along the hand-foot path, which is much more dangerous than a situation with two feet.
First aid to a person affected by step voltage
If it is accidentally discovered that a person is lying next to a bare wire at the accident site, you should not rush and try to provide the victim with first aid, as you can also get under voltage.
In this case, you need:
- find a long and always dry stick (branch) or a piece of a wooden board;
- then, with the previously described goose step, approach the wire and, using the found non-conductive, improvised means, throw the wire as far as possible (at least 8 meters);
- and only after that it will be possible to drag the injured person away from the high-voltage line by dragging, and then check his pulse and breathing.
Then it remains to call and call an ambulance and, if possible, provide first aid.