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Subject: Stay out of car while pumping gas
Bob Renkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is working 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:
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) There were 29 fires where the vehicle was reentered and the nozzle
was touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some
resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to
the customer.
8) Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately after
the gas cap was removed and before fueling began.
Mr. Renkes stresses to NEVER get back into your vehicle while filling
it with gas.
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
http://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, especially those who have kids in the car with them while
pumping gas. If this were to happen to them, they may not be able to
get the children out in time.
Thanks for passing this along.
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Urban Legend Zeitgeist: Annoying Static Singe: Example