A woman caught the attention of internet users after sharing a crucial safety tip drivers should follow when filling up with gas during winter.
On her TikTok profile, Alexandra Hope Craig posted a video to share a desperate situation that happened to her and to give a safety tip she wishes more drivers knew.
The tip involves touching a metal object to “ground yourself,” because, according to her, static electricity “travels more freely through the air” on cold days.
According to Craig, this recommendation is especially important when you are about to put the pump nozzle into the tank or when you are removing it.
“Make sure to touch something else that is metal, something that grounds you, before you start pumping gas,” she advised in the clip, which has already accumulated over 1.8 million views.
In the comments, users shared their own recommendations. “And please, turn off your car before refueling. I’ve seen a lot of people pump gas with the engine still running,” commented one TikTok user.
“Since we have energy inside us, grounding yourself basically means releasing that accumulated energy (the static),” added another. “Touch the top of your car! My parents taught me that,” advised a third user.
@alexandra_hope_craig Don’t let static electricity cause a tragedy at the gas pump! If you get back in your car while fueling, touch the metal on your car first before touching the gas pump handle! It is rare, but it can happen! And from what I’ve read, it’s when the person got back in the car while fueling, & they didn’t re-ground before touching the handle, which resulted in static electricity igniting the fumes from the gasoline. #wintersafety #psa ♬ original sound – Alexandra Hope Craig
Photo and video: TikTok @alexandra_hope_craig. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
