What do I do in an electrical emergency, fire or shock?

If there is fire, smoke, sparks, a shock or anyone injured, get everyone out and call 000 straight away. Do not touch a person who may still be in contact with electricity, and never use water on an electrical fire. Stay well clear of fallen power lines and tell the 000 operator about them.

What counts as an electrical emergency?

An emergency is anything where people are in immediate danger. That includes flames, smoke or sparks from a power point, appliance, switchboard or solar equipment, a person who has been shocked, and power lines on the ground or tangled in trees or fences.

A burning smell, a hot fitting or a buzzing sound without flames is not yet a fire, but it is a warning. Keep away from it and call a licensed electrician urgently. If it gets worse, treat it as an emergency.

What if someone has had a shock?

Electricity can pass through a person and into whoever grabs them. That is why the first rule is not to touch the person or the equipment they are touching. Call 000 and follow the operator's instructions. They will tell you what to do while help is on the way.

Even if the person seems fine afterwards, a shock can affect the heart. They should be checked by a doctor, and the equipment involved should not be used again until a licensed electrician has looked at it.

What if there is an electrical fire?

Get everyone out, stay out and call 000. Do not use water, because water conducts electricity. Do not go back inside for belongings. Tell the fire service where the fire started and what equipment was involved, because that helps them work safely.

What about fallen power lines?

Treat every fallen line as live, even if it looks dead or is not sparking. Keep well clear, keep others away and call 000 and your network provider. Do not approach a vehicle or fence that a line is touching.

What should I do after the emergency?

Once everyone is safe and the emergency services have finished, do not use the equipment again. Leave anything that was involved exactly as it is. From a safe distance, you can photograph what you can see and note the time, which area was affected and the make and model on any label.

Then contact a licensed electrician to find the cause and make the installation safe. The Electrical Safety Office Queensland has guidance on what to do in an electrical emergency at its emergency page.

How can I be ready before anything happens?

Agree on an exit plan with everyone in the household, including a meeting point outside, so nobody goes back in to look for others. Make sure everyone knows your street address, because that is the first thing the operator will ask. Keep it somewhere visible for visitors and children.

Warning signs are worth acting on early. Flickering lights, a burning smell, a hot or discoloured power point, a buzzing sound or a safety switch that keeps tripping all deserve a call to a licensed electrician before they turn into an emergency. Do not wait for something to get worse.