Captain Mercaptan

Captain Mercaptan^SM is BGE’s natural gas safety hero and he wants every kid to become natural gas safety hero too, by teaching simple tips to their friends and family to help them stay safe around natural gas. Captain Mercaptan takes his name from “mercaptan” the safety additive BGE and gas utilities put in natural gas to give it a rotten egg odor and make it easier to detect.

Captain Mercaptan and his safety sidekicks – Piper and Sunny – were designed by kids for kids, through the Adventures of Captain Mercaptan – BGE’s Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge. In fact, the Captain Mercaptan character was created in 2014 by a student from the School of Incarnation in Gambrills, Maryland. Piper and Sunny were created by students from Emmorton Elementary School in Bel Air, Maryland. Now, their stories are being narrated and illustrated each year through comic book pages created by the Adventures of Captain Mercaptan contest.

Visit SafetyCentral.BGE.com for more information about his latest adventures and the Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge.

Every kid can save the day — detect a natural gas leak, take action to remain safe and recognize important gas equipment and line markers — and become a natural gas safety hero just like Captain Mercaptan, Piper and Sunny! Just remember to follow these simple tips below.

For Signs of Natural Gas:

Use your nose

Mercaptan is a safety scent BGE puts in natural gas to give it a rotten egg smell.

Use your ears

Listen for hissing, blowing or roaring sound of gas escaping.

Use your eyes

Look for dirt being blown into the air, dead plants or grass in an otherwise green areas, fire coming from the ground or water bubbling and being blown into the air.

If You Detect Natural Gas, Leave Immediately:

Don't try to find the source of the leak.

Don't use matches or turn anything on, even a cellphone.

Find a safe place outside and call BGE, or tell an adult to call: 800.685.0123. BGE will respond quickly, there is no charge investigate a gas leak.