Responders See the Dramatic Power of Electricity

Swan Lake, NY - Over 50 Sullivan County firefighters and around the same amount of Public Works employees traveled to the Sullivan County Emergency Services Training Center to see a "Live Wire" demonstration by NYSEG last week. In the wake of a near-fatal electrocution in Sullivan County last year, the emphasis was on safety for the NYSEG linemen, firefighters, highway workers and the general public.

"NYSEG had a mockup of a transmission line going right to your house with all the parts in between that we as firefighters might see," Deputy Public Safety Commissioner and County Fire Coordinator John Hauschild related.

The dangers were demonstrated in many different ways. Using a sausage link to represent a finger, NYSEG instructors touched the line with the link. The result was not only a cooked sausage - it was blown apart. Demonstrators also shorted out the line using a ladder, a piece of rope, a mylar balloon, a tree branch, a representation of a squirrel and other common items.

"As firefighters, we trust our equipment and especially our boots. But in a demonstration of the power and danger of a downed electric line, a boot was fried," noted Chief Deputy Fire Coordinator Jack Halchak.

"Water conducts electricity. What conditions do firefighters work in, and often our DPW employees too? Very wet conditions," noted Hauschild. "That's why the repeated message was, DON'T touch or trust downed wires of any kind. Let the NYSEG linemen handle that part of making the scene safe."

"NYSEG is proud to work with our first responders and Public Works employees to ensure they remain safe while doing their vital work in our communities," said Matt McPhillips, NYSEG's Municipal & Community Relations Manager for the Liberty Division (and Sullivan County's District 1 Legislator). "We look forward to working with all interested members of our community to increase knowledge about the danger of downed wires, and give people the information they need to stay safe in an emergency."