!Electric shock
Electric shock can cause burns and stop the heart.
1. If a person is being shocked: Do not touch the person. The
electricity can pass through his body and shock anyone who
touches him. First, unplug or turn off the machine or tool
causing the shock. If you cannot turn off the power, use dry
clothing, rope, or a piece of wood, such as a broom handle,
as a tool to separate the victim from the power source. Do
not use anything wet or made of metal. If the person is
lying in water, use the wood or cloth to drag him out, and
do not step in the water yourself! Then you can move the
person away from the source of electricity.
2. Electric shock can cause breathing to stop. Start rescue
breathing.
3. If there is no heartbeat try to start the heart by giving
chest compressions - press hard and fast on the middle of
the chest. It may take a long time. Keep trying.
4. If the person is breathing and her heart is beating, look
for signs of burns. As with a gunshot wound, there should be
both an entry and exit burn.
5. Check for other injuries. Mental confusion, nerve damage
(problems with feeling or movement), hearing loss, or
circulation problems can all arise. If the person fell, he
may have a head injury, broken bones, or bleeding.
If the shock was low-voltage and the person has no sign of
problems after a few hours, he will likely be OK. If the shock
was high-voltage or from lightning, or if the person has
lingering problems, be more cautious. Burns inside the body can
be much more severe than burns on the skin where the electricity
entered and left the body. IV fluids and other remedies may be
needed. It may take days or weeks to know the real damage.
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Hesperian Health Guides 1919 Addison St Ste 304 Berkeley CA 94704
1.510.845.1447
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