Avoid Touch and Step Potential
To avoid touch potential, never touch anyone or anything that may be in contact with a source of electricity. If you do, you will become a victim as well. Wait until the electricity is turned off before attempting a rescue.
Do not touch downed power lines or anything they are touching, which may include:
- Phone or cable lines
- Utility poles
- Vehicles
- Metal fences
- Ladders
- Trees
- The ground
To avoid step potential near an energized, grounded object, take very short hops, keeping your feet together and making contact with the ground at the same time. Keeping your feet together ensures that the voltage remains the same between them, minimizing the electrical potential.