Now that the colder winter months are upon us, TikToker Alexandra Hope Craig (@alexandra_hope_craig) is issuing a timely PSA about how to pump gas into your car safely.
Most people associate winter driving safety with icy roads and snow-covered windshields; however, there is also a lesser-known but very real risk involving the gas pump.
During the winter, static electricity travels more freely through the air. You may notice this if you have long hair that stands on end or are constantly zapping yourself on doorknobs.
This static buildup can become dangerous when fueling your car.
When you go to the gas station to fill your car up with gas, always ground yourself before touching the gas pump, whether you are putting the pump into your tank or pulling it out.
What she means by grounding yourself is to touch a metal surface or a metal object to cut off the flow of static electricity, get rid of the shock, and prevent a tragic accident from potentially occurring.
“I was reminded of this the other day,” she said. “Thank god nothing happened, but that little spark of electricity, like when you touch something, and you get shocked from static, that little spark can be enough to cause a fire or an explosion from the fumes.”
When she grabbed the gas pump, she got shocked by the gas pump handle. So, make sure to touch something that’s metal to ground yourself before pumping gas.
If you get back in your car while the tank is filling up, don’t forget to re-ground yourself before removing the gas pump as well. It’s a small habit that takes just a second but could make all the difference in the world.
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Many TikTok users took to the comments section to thank Alexandra for the warning because they had no idea that this was a thing to worry about.
Our parents were right; every day, there’s always something.
“I didn’t know that static travels more freely during these cooler months until literally yesterday! I’ve been noticing I’ve been shocking not only myself but my cat a lot lately, so I looked it up. Also, thank you for this PSA about the gas pump,” commented one user.
“In the summer, it’s more humid. The water in the air dissipates static electricity that builds up over our daily interactions. During winter, there is barely any moisture. This lack of moisture causes more static to be present because of the lack of water in the air to dissipate it,” explained another.
“In my 16 years of driving, I have never once heard of this, and I live in the Midwest. New fear unlocked, and I will definitely be doing this,” added someone else.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
