Static at the Gas Pumps

Evidence of the inevitability of winter is in the air as temperatures drop and leaves accumulate. With that said, we can easily recall how cold it can get during Wisconsin winters. One of my biggest personal gripes is standing outside of my vehicle while I wait for the gas to finish pumping. While it does not take very long to get the job done, a few minutes in dangerously cold temperatures can seem like an eternity. 

However tempting it may be, I urge you to resist going back into your vehicle to stay warm while the gas is still pumping. If you do not already know, this seemingly innocent act is very dangerous and potentially life-threatening. The reason is that the physical act of getting back into your car can cause static electricity to build, enough to ignite a gas pump explosion. Although this may sound a bit dramatic and far-fetched, it has happened many times. Some incidences have resulted in serious injury and even death.

Almost all cases involved the individual getting back into their vehicle while the gas was still pumping. What happened is that, once the gas shut off, they got out of their vehicle to remove the nozzle. This created enough static electricity to ignite a very dangerous reaction. Another reported and separate cause of a gas pump explosion is the static produced when using a cell phone while pumping gas. Both acts should be avoided at all times.

Play it safe this winter and avoid a potential disaster just to stay warm for a few extra minutes, or to multi-task by making a quick phone call.