First aid for electric shock: do's and don'ts

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Even if it seems that everything worked out, it is imperative to see a doctor.

Electric shock is one of the most insidious injuries. It can have both visible consequences (burns, pain, disturbances of the heart and respiratory rhythms), and completely not obvious. But no less threatening. And we must act quickly.

How to provide first aid for electric shock

Unfortunately, if you are electrocuted, there is little you can do: hope to be thrown to the side or the shock will be short. If you are an observer, you have every chance to save someone's life. Proceed with Electric Shock Treatment.

1. Try to separate the victim from the power source as quickly as possible

If the plug of the electrical appliance is not damaged (otherwise it is better not to touch it so as not to become a victim yourself), unplug it from the outlet. Try cutting off the current through an external switch or fuse box.

If it is impossible to turn off the electricity, stand on a wooden chair or board, a stack of dry newspapers, a book, a rubber mat, glass - something that does not conduct electricity. Pick up another dielectric - a wooden or plastic mop handle, a wooden chair, a rubber mat rolled into a tube - and try to move the victim away from the voltage source.

In no case do not rush to save a person with your bare hands: you risk getting a deadly dose of stress.

Whatever you do, walk away if you feel tingling in your legs and lower body. In this case, it is better to move not in steps, but in jumps on one leg until the symptom disappears. Otherwise, you will suffer and will not be able to help either another or yourself.

2. Call an ambulance if necessary

Call the ambulance or local emergency number if the victim has Electrical shock: First aid:

• there are visible burns;
• difficulty breathing;
• muscle cramps or pain are observed;
• confusion or loss of consciousness is present;
• have a heart rhythm problem (arrhythmia) or the heart is not beating at all.

3. Lay and / or warm the person

If the victim is conscious, place him more comfortably - preferably on his back on a hard surface. Rest until the ambulance arrives or (if the electric shock seems minor) until the victim is better.

It is better not to move an unconscious person, because it is not known how serious the damage is.

Cover the victim with a blanket or blanket, put on warm clothes. The current can cause impaired circulation, so it is imperative that the person does not get hypothermic.

4. Cover burns

If the victim has burns, cover them with sterile gauze (if available) or a clean, smooth cloth. Of course, only if the person's condition allows you to remove or cut clothes on burnt places.

Do not use blankets or towels as a bandage; their fibrous tissue can adhere to burns and later exacerbate skin damage.

5. Help deal with shock

If signs of shock appear - vomiting, weakness, severe pallor - slightly raise your legs, placing a roller of things under your feet.

6. Give artificial respiration

If the victim is breathing poorly (rarely and convulsively) or does not breathe at all, immediately begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Specialists EMERCOM of Russia recommend first aid in case of electric shock to kneel next to the victim and throw his head back, placing one hand under the back of his head.

With your other hand, press lightly on his forehead so that the chin is in line with the neck. Put a piece of gauze or a handkerchief on your mouth, pinch the person's nose with your index and thumb and begin to inhale air into his mouth with force.

The first 5-10 breaths should be quick (in 20-30 seconds), then the pace can be reduced to one breath in 5-6 seconds. Watch the victim's chest: if it rises, you are doing the right thing.

7. Do an indirect heart massage

If a person has no pulse and no heartbeat, in addition to artificial respiration, an indirect heart massage is necessary.

Attention! Do it only if there is definitely no pulse. In the presence of palpitations, chest compressions are prohibited!

What to do if it seems that the electric shock was not dangerous

In any case, you need to consult a therapist. Even in the absence of visible external damage and malaise, an electric shock can cause a spasm of blood vessels or disrupt the work of internal organs - and in case of a poor development of events, you will find out about this from somewhere in the intensive care unit.

The severity of the injury depends on many factors, including the following:

• The source of the blow. This can be lightning, power lines, household appliances, a socket, an electric weapon.
• Voltage.
• Duration of contact with the source of impact.
• Current type. A variable is considered more dangerous than a permanent one, because it can cause muscle cramps and, as a result, respiratory arrest or heart failure.
• Features of health, the presence of certain chronic diseases, in particular the cardiovascular system.

It is clear that if you shake from touching a poorly grounded washing machine, the health consequences will be significantly less than if struck by lightning. But in any case, only a qualified doctor can evaluate them.

He will inquire in detail about what happened, check with the medical record and diagnoses and, possibly, send for additional tests to exclude invisible to the eye, but therefore no less dangerous internal injuries.