YOUR SAFETY- OUR SAFETY
Please send this information to ALL your family & friends, especially those who have kids in the car with them while pumping gas. If this were to happen, they may not be able to get the children out in time.

MUST READ, EVEN IF YOU DON'T OWN A CAR.

Safety Alert!

Here's some reasons why we don't allow cell phones in operating areas, propylene oxide handling and storage area, propane, gas and diesel refueling areas.

The Shell Oil Company recently issued a warning after three incidents in which mobile phones (cell phones) ignited fumes during fueling operations.

In the first case, the phone was placed on the car's trunk lid during fueling; it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the car
and the gasoline pump.

In the second, an individual suffered severe burns to their face when fumes ignited as they answered a call while refueling their car!

And in the third, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as fumes ignited when the phone, which was in their pocket, rang while they were fueling their car.

You should know that: Mobile Phones can ignite fuel or fumes.

Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition.

Mobile phones should not be used in filling stations or when fueling lawn mowers, boat, etc.

Mobile phones should not be used, or should be turned off, around other materials that generate flammable or explosive fumes or dust, (I.e., solvents, chemicals, gases, grain dust, etc...)

TO sum it up, here are the Four Rules for Safe Refueling:

1) Turn off engine

2) Don't smoke

3) Don't use your cell phone - leave it inside the vehicle or turn it off

4) Don't re-enter your vehicle during fueling.

Bob Renkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign to try and make people aware of fires as a result of 'static electricity' 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, they went back to pull the nozzle out and 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 re-entered and the nozzle was touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some resulted in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station and to the customer.

8) Seventeen fires 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.

I ask you to please send this in formation 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.

looked up on Snopes.com which says much of it is false, although the part about static electricity is correct.

http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp

There are no cell phone warnings on gas pumps. I won't take a chance. Although such instances are probably rare, why take a chance?

Thanks for the warnings.

"Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition. "


so how do you stop someone from calling you when you are at the gas pump?

good thing that...

Jersey Girls Don't Pump Gas...

(In Jersey, it is illegal to pump your own gas. I went into culture shock attending college in PA!!)

There are warning where I've bought gas here.

All of the gas stations that I go to have and have for a long time signs on the pumps not to use cell phones for risk of fire. People don't listen until them or someone they know has the problem. It's the same way with texting and driving. I know alot of people who do it and not just at a light either. They know it's unsafe and against the law in most states but they figure they won't get caught and they are doing it safely. The thing is new cars Mine is 2010 have the technology to have the car take the text message via bluetooth and convert it to a voice message that you can listen too and even some short responses built in to do a quick reply but most cell phone companies don't have phones compatible w/the bluetooth feature to do this. I have a smart phone but it isn't smart enough to handle what my car can do and I called my company and was told they don't have any phones that will do it. It's still not good to text and drive but at least you'd hear the text and know if you should pull over to answer it or send it an automated repsonse of awknowledgement.

myth busters tried to ignite petrol with mobile phones and couldn't no matter how hard they tried. so the mith was busted.
however years ago when my son was working in a filling station he had to ban someone from filling his car as he lit a cigarete while filling his car, How stupid can a person be.??? :thumbdown: :thumbdown: :thumbdown:

There are where I live, (although Australia has so many signs warning us of impending doom that it gets kinda hard to take any of them seriously)

But seriously- WHY would anyone get back into the car while filling their car? Actually I dont think THAT is possible here- you cant lock the nozzle in the on position like you can in some other countries. But even if you could- why get into the car? (and don't say to answer the phone!)