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How to Give First Aid for Electric Shock?

How to Give First Aid for Electric Shock?

Electric shock is a common situation and the effect varies depending on the source of the shock. For example, while electric shocks caused by light fuses have a moderate course, very serious clinical symptoms may occur in electric shocks caused by industrial power supplies. Contact of electric current with the body surface or passage through the body is defined as electric shock. This can occur in any environment where electric current is present. It should not be forgotten that urgent medical attention is needed in case of high voltage shock or electrical burns. You can follow the rest of the article for other topics you are curious about about electric shock.

What is Electric Shock?

Electric shock refers to the contact of electric current with the body. As this condition develops, burns may occur in both the internal and external structures of the body and organ damage may occur. Electric shocks that occur in the home environment are generally mild compared to other shocks, but caution is recommended as small children’s oral contact with sockets or cords plugged into the socket can quickly become serious.

In cases of electric shock, there are various factors that affect the clinical course other than the source of the shock. Some of these factors can be summarized as follows:

  • Income
  • Contact time with source
  • General health condition
  • The path of electric current in the body
  • Whether direct or alternating current

What are the symptoms of electric shock?

Symptoms of electric shock may vary depending on the type of shock and voltage level. Symptoms that can generally be considered as signs of electric shock are as follows:

  • numbness, tingling
  • Burn
  • Seizure development
  • Irregularity in heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Problems with vision and hearing
  • muscle spasms
  • Headache
  • loss of consciousness
  • cardiac arrest
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How Does Electric Shock Affect the Body?

Electric currents can cause 4 types of damage to the body:

  • Flash Electric Shock: Flash injuries are electrical shocks that typically cause superficial burns. These types of electric shocks, which may occur due to the heat generated during an arc flash, cannot pass under the skin.
  • Flame Injuries: These are electric shock injuries that occur when a person’s clothes catch fire during an arc flash.
  • Lightning Strike: Lightning strikes involve short-term, high-voltage electrical exposure. In these cases, electric current continues to flow throughout the person’s body.
  • Real Electric Shock: Electric shocks are electric shocks in which the current passes through the person’s body as a result of the person’s body acting as a part of the electrical circuit after contact with the electric current.

While some individuals feel discomfort of unknown origin as a result of electric shocks, some individuals may develop severe pain and obvious tissue damage as a result of electric shock. The risk of developing long-term complications is considered low in individuals who do not have serious damage and whose heart-related biochemical analyzes are normal within the first 24-48 hours (2).

What Causes Electric Shock?

Electric shocks are situations that occur after direct contact with current. There may be various reasons for this contact:

  • lightning strike
  • Contact with loose cables due to damage to transformers
  • Contacting sockets with objects or direct fingers
  • Contact with damaged power cord or components
  • Contact with overloaded electrical panels

What Should Be Done in Case of Electric Shock?

If you encounter an electric shock outside your home, you must first make sure that the safety of the environment and yourself is ensured. Then, there are various steps you can take to help the individual who has been electrocuted. It is very important to avoid direct contact with the person while taking these steps, and it should not be forgotten that the first thing you need to do before the intervention is to contact the emergency line.

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How to Give First Aid for Electric Shock?

If you experience an electric shock, especially in cases of serious current exposure, the first aid strategy that can be applied is as follows:

  • Get as far away from the current as possible
  • Calling the emergency helpline
  • Avoiding much movement other than moving away from the electrical source

Even if the electric shock is mild and there are no felt symptoms, it is recommended that you consult a health institution to evaluate any invisible internal organ damage.

If you encounter an individual exposed to electric shock, the first aid steps you can apply after making sure of your own safety and the environment are as follows:

  • You should not touch the person who is in contact with the electrical source,
  • You should avoid moving the person unless there is still a risk of electric shock.
  • If possible, cut off the electrical power to the source of the impact; if it is not possible, you should remove the source of the impact from the person with non-conductive materials.
  • You should stay at least 20 steps away from high voltage electric shock cases,
  • You should contact emergency services,
  • If you are sure that there is no risky situation until help arrives and that you are ensuring your own health or that of the environment, you should check the patient’s breathing and pulse. When necessary, you should directly start cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
  • During the observation of the patient, in the presence of shock such as vomiting or paleness, you should lift the legs slightly up.
  • If possible, cover possible burn tissues with a sterile cover or gauze and avoid using a band-aid.
  • You must make sure the person is kept warm.

How is Electric Shock Treatment?

Even if the injury following an electric shock seems minor, medical attention should be sought and the damage to the internal tissues should be examined. Depending on the type of injury occurring, various applications that can be performed within the scope of electric shock treatment are as follows:

  • Burn treatment using antibiotic creams and sterile dressings
  • Providing pain control
  • Giving fluid to the patient intravenously
  • Administration of tetanus vaccine
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If the electric shock occurs from very high voltage sources, there are cases that are hospitalized for a few days or more and are monitored and treated. It is very important to ensure that the person does not suffer any cardiac or serious internal organ damage in high-current impacts.

How to Prevent Electric Shock?

There are various practices that can be done to prevent electric shock in the home environment. These measures that can be taken can be summarized as follows:

  • Correctly covering or hiding sockets
  • Ensuring that electrical cables are properly insulated
  • Children should not be left alone in environments where there is electric current, such as a pool or jacuzzi.

In addition to these practices that can be done at home, there are also various precautions that can be taken against electric shock cases that may occur outdoors. Some of these measures are:

  • Informing the authorities if any overturned transformer or broken power cable is seen on the road.
  • If an electrical cable is detected to be in contact with a puddle, do not pass through it by car or on foot.

Electric shocks can have varying clinical conditions, from mild cases to very serious cases. It is very important to regularly check home electrical circuits and make sure they are not damaged in order to protect against accidental electric shocks, which are usually caused by accidental exposure in the home environment. Persons involved in installation or maintenance of electrical systems outdoors must comply with the necessary safety regulations.

Electric shocks are almost always accidental and preventable. While low-voltage electric shocks generally cause simple injuries, awareness should be exercised because in some cases, depending on the source and voltage of the current, it may even lead to loss of life. Examination services for the evaluation of cardiovascular health are provided in the health institutions within the Medical Park. We wish you healthy days.

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