What To Do When A Gas Pump Spews Gasoline All Over The Place
I stopped at a gas station yesterday on my way home from work. I was standing there between the pumps talking to a friend of mine who was also there. Then we heard a shower of gasoline spewing from the top of the gas pump all over the side of some lady's car and the ground. And listen, when a gas pump is fully running it cranks out some gas. There was a lot quickly.
The lady looked at me and said "what do I do?" I immediately responded "emergency cutoff switch!" And then I began to look for it. Guess what. They put that switch close to the building so the employees can get to it quickly. I didn't find it. So I did the next logical thing. I braved the shower of gasoline to grab the pump handle, removed it from the car and put it back on the pump. And yes that shut off the gas.
Now by this time both of my arms are fully soaked in gasoline. It was on my shoes, my pants, and my watch. I can still smell it as I write this.
Why did this happen?
You know that "break-away" feature of the gas pump handle and hose? That is the bit that breaks apart (and theoretically shuts off the flow of gas) in case you drive off with the pump handle still in your car. Well that is where the gas was spewing from.
According to the employee at the gas station (and I am sorry but he was such the stereotypical Indian convenience store clerk, it was too funny), that pump was already broken. They left the pump handle in its cradle even though the hose was disconnected. I presume this was so the other handles would work correctly. Now the lady did not see that the hose was laying on the ground and did not connect above her head. Hey, I run on autopilot so much, I could easily make that mistake. I guess being a bit ADD and OCD helps me to spot those kinds of things.
A little gasoline doesn't smell all that bad. Add a little more and it reeks. Take a shower in it and it REALLY stinks!
So take my advice, don't drink and drive, don't do drugs, tip your server, go to church, and always survey the gas station and its pumps before you crank it up.
This has been a public service announcement of the I Don't Want to Take Gasoline Showers Foundation and not the Will Rogers Institute. Had this been an actual emergency, you would have seen me speeding past you. Taxes and tags not included and your mileage may vary.
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