A woman says both her mom and sister were seriously injured during a gas pumping accident after they did something most of us have probably done at some point. Now she’s warning others of how dangerous it really is so they can avoid the same fate.
In a TikTok that’s generated over 69,700 views as of this writing, Jess (@_who.sthatgirl) issues a public service announcement to not be distracted or unattentive while pumping gas.
“This is a quick reminder to take pumping gas seriously and listen to all the rules that are written on the pump,” Jess begins.
Jess then lists out the rules to follow while pumping gas.
“You should never be on your phone. You should never be getting in and out of your car. You should never be smoking. You should always be at the pump when you are pumping gas,” she says.
Jess then goes to explain how both her sister and mom were seriously injured while pumping gas.
“My sister and my mom were both lit on fire at a gas station,” Jess shares.
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She says both her mom and sister were lit on fire due to leaving the gas pump unattended. Turns out the gas pump was defective and the gas kept flowing out. The gas ended up underneath the car, which is when it got dangerous.
“Because the engine was hot and it was a hot summer day, it [expletive] sparked and both my mom and sister were on fire,” Jess explains.
The damage is permanent.
“My sister will forever have scars up and down both of her legs and on her arm. My mom is scarred on her arm from being on fire at a gas station,” Jess says.
The healing process was very intensive. Jess’s sister ended up in the intensive care unit (ICU) for six weeks and was in a wheelchair for weeks while her legs healed. Additionally, she had to wear bandages on her legs for months after while recovering from the burns.
“So please take the [expletive] rules of pumping gas seriously,” Jess concludes.
What Are Some Things to Avoid While Pumping?
There are several things you should not do while pumping gas: use your phone, reenter the vehicle, smoke, or leave the pump unattended.
The primary reason for why you shouldn’t be on your phone is due to how distracting phones are. Using your phone while pumping gas is a major distraction and takes attention from the task at hand. When dealing with gasoline, it’s essential to have full attention focused on the pump.
Additionally, there is a potential for a fire getting started by using your phone at the pump because phones can cause static electricity buildup, which can cause a fire. As Reader's Digest reported last year, there hasn't been a single documented case of this happening. However, the outlet continues, "Phones do cause static electricity and just because it hasn’t happened yet, that doesn’t mean it never could."
According to the American Petroleum Institute, it’s also best to avoid reentering your vehicle while refueling.
“When you exit and re-enter your vehicle while refueling, there is the potential for sufficient static electricity to build up that a spark can discharge between your body and the fuel nozzle,” per the Maryland Department of the Environment. This static build up is enough to spark and ignite the gasoline so it’s best to avoid re-entering your car while pumping.
If you can’t avoid re-entering your vehicle, discharge any static buildup. To do this, touch something metal on your car, such as a vehicle door handle, with a bare hand to remove build up.
While it may seem obvious, it’s important to note the dangers that can arise when smoking at the gas pump. Further, keep lit matches and lighters away from pumps or fuel containers due to the chance of triggering an ignition and fire, as gasoline is highly flammable and even its vapors can catch fire or trigger an explosion.
With the auto-fill feature, it may seem okay to leave your car unattended and run inside the gas station. However, by doing this, it could potentially be catastrophic if something goes wrong with the pump, McIntosh Energy advises.
Just like Jess’s mother and sister tragically learned, there could be a malfunction with the auto-fill feature. It only takes one fuel tank or pump error to cause an overfill. Overfilling isn’t just dangerous for you—it puts anyone in the area at risk. This can be avoided by simply staying with your car while pumping.
Cautionary Tale Inspires Sympathy and Change
People were genuinely sympathetic and shocked by what happened to Jess’ mother and sister.
“I don’t think people take driving in general seriously at all like we aren’t operating 4-ton metal machines,” one wrote.
“Not gonna lie, I be mad nonchalant about getting gas and have left my pump unattended several times. Genuinely never thought about it like this and will adjust my behavior accordingly,” another confessed.
“I’ve worked at a gas station before and I promise you most patrons do not heed any of those rules. They do just about everything you can imagine,” a third wrote.
Many said that the dangerous behavior they see most is people leaving their cars running while pumping. Though NAPA Auto Parts notes that the chance of a fire or explosion is "remote," people largely agree that it's not worth the risk. Plus gas stations have rules prohibiting it.
“Video before this was a girl sitting in a RUNNING car while her man pumped gas….. Like do they think the warnings are for fun?” one said.
Motor1 has contacted Jess via TikTok direct message. The story will be updated if she replies.
