Got this one in an e-mail also, and thought I'd pass it on:
Hello everyone,
I just had an interesting call from Bob Renkes of Petroleum
Equipment Institute. Mr. Renkes was calling all the
Scherer's in Oran trying to reach Lisa Scherer - the one
whose van burnt at Hucks. The company he works for is
on a campaign to try and make people aware of fires as a
result of static at gas pumps. His company has researched
150 cases of these fires. His results were very surprising
to me:
1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.
2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their
vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas, when
finished and they went back to pull the nozzle out the fire
started, as a result of static.
3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes.
4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely
finished. This is why they are seldom involved in these
types of fires.
5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas.
6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the
fire, when connected with static charges.
7) Several of the 150 cases (not nearly all, but several)
involved 1994 Dodge Caravans. (They don't know why,
possibly more static).
After finding out that I usually go back in the van while I am
filling the it with gas, Mr. Renkes stressed to me NEVER do
that. If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the
gas is pumping, make sure you get out, close the door,
TOUCHING THE METAL, before you ever pull the nozzle
out. This way the static from your body will be discharged
before you ever remove the nozzle.
As I mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute,
along with several other companies now, are really trying
to make the public aware of this danger. You can find out
more information by going to www.pei.org.
Once here, click in the center of the screen where it says
"Stop Static".
I ask you to please send this information to ALL your family
and friends. After talking with Lisa, I can see why she said
she'd never go to a gas station with her kids in the car with
her. If they had been in the vehicle, they would not have
been able to get out in time.
Thanks for passing this along.
Hello everyone,
I just had an interesting call from Bob Renkes of Petroleum
Equipment Institute. Mr. Renkes was calling all the
Scherer's in Oran trying to reach Lisa Scherer - the one
whose van burnt at Hucks. The company he works for is
on a campaign to try and make people aware of fires as a
result of static at gas pumps. His company has researched
150 cases of these fires. His results were very surprising
to me:
1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.
2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their
vehicle while the nozzle was still pumping gas, when
finished and they went back to pull the nozzle out the fire
started, as a result of static.
3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes.
4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely
finished. This is why they are seldom involved in these
types of fires.
5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas.
6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the
fire, when connected with static charges.
7) Several of the 150 cases (not nearly all, but several)
involved 1994 Dodge Caravans. (They don't know why,
possibly more static).
After finding out that I usually go back in the van while I am
filling the it with gas, Mr. Renkes stressed to me NEVER do
that. If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the
gas is pumping, make sure you get out, close the door,
TOUCHING THE METAL, before you ever pull the nozzle
out. This way the static from your body will be discharged
before you ever remove the nozzle.
As I mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute,
along with several other companies now, are really trying
to make the public aware of this danger. You can find out
more information by going to www.pei.org.
Once here, click in the center of the screen where it says
"Stop Static".
I ask you to please send this information to ALL your family
and friends. After talking with Lisa, I can see why she said
she'd never go to a gas station with her kids in the car with
her. If they had been in the vehicle, they would not have
been able to get out in time.
Thanks for passing this along.
