Electric shock – Better Health Channel

Summary

Read the full fact sheet

• The human body conducts electricity.
• Disconnect the power supply before trying to help someone suffering from an electric shock.
• Be especially careful in wet environments and around fallen powerlines, they may still be conducting electricity even if they are broken or not moving.
• Always hire a licensed electrician for all electrical work around the home.

What is electric shock?

Our bodies conduct electricity. If any part of your body meets live electricity an electric current flows through the tissues, which causes an electric shock. People sometimes call it electrocution.

Depending on the length and severity the electric shock, injuries can include:

• burns to the skin
• burns to internal tissues
• electrical interference or damage (or both) to the heart, which could cause the heart to stop or beat erratically.

It is important to seek medical attention for mild electric shock to assess whether the heart has been affected.

What causes electric shock?

Some causes of electric shock include:

• faulty appliances
• damaged or frayed cords or extension leads
• electrical appliances in contact with water
• incorrect, damaged or deteriorated household wiring
• downed powerlines
• lightning strike.

If it is safe to do so, disconnect the power supply before trying to help someone with electric shock.

Symptoms of electric shock

Typical symptoms of an electric shock include:

• unconsciousness
• difficulties in breathing or no breathing at all
• a weak, erratic pulse or no pulse at all
• burns, particularly at the place where the electricity entered and left the body (entrance and exit burns)
• cardiac arrest.

Although someone who has had an electric shock may appear unharmed, they should still receive medical attention. Some injuries and complications may not be obvious initially. A medical examination is important after any electric shock.

First aid for electric shock

First-aid steps for electric shock:

• Check for danger – make sure you, the injured person and others around you are safe.
• Try to switch off or disconnect the power supply. Do not touch the person until you are sure power is turned off. Be careful in wet environments, such as bathrooms, as water conducts electricity.
• If you are in a building or the power lines have come down, it may be safer to disconnect the whole electricity supply. You may need to wait for authorised electricity personnel to do this especially if there are live wires.
• If you cannot switch off the power supply, try to remove the person without touching them directly. Use something that is dry and does not conduct electricity (such as a wooden broom handle)
• Follow the DRSABCD method for first aid which includes checking the injured person’s response, airway and breathing. It may be necessary to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Send for help – Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. The operator will organise assistance for you while you continue talking on the phone. They may give you first aid instructions over the phone. If you can, put your phone on loudspeaker.

Treating burns

If the person is breathing steadily and they are responsive, attend to their injuries:

• Talk calmly and reassure the person.
• Cool the burn area with cool running water for 20 minutes.
• Cover burns with dressings that won’t stick to the skin. If you don’t have dressings available, loosely applied cling wrap can be used. Do not apply cling wrap tightly or wrap around a body part, as this will cause complications if the injured area swells.
• Never put ointments or oils onto burns.
• Try not to move anyone who has fallen from a height as they may have spinal injuries. Only move them if there is a chance of further danger from the environment, such as falling objects.

Fallen powerlines

Powerlines can come down for many reasons:

• extreme weather conditions such as floods and bushfires
• motor vehicle accidents
• fallen trees
• workplace accidents.

Standing near fallen powerlines can be dangerous. Always stay more than 8-10 metres away. Do not go near anything that may be touching them such as vehicles, water or metal fences or other metal objects.

Powerlines and vehicle accidents

Sometimes, powerlines are downed in vehicle accidents and may drape over your vehicle.

If this happens, your tyres act as insulation. It is important to stay inside the vehicle so you will be safe from electric shock.

If you arrive on the scene of an accident where the powerlines have come down, do not approach until it has been declared safe by the proper authorities. Stand well back and encourage any bystanders to keep a distance of more than 8-10 metres.

Even if the lines or wires are broken or not moving, they may still be live. All fallen powerlines should be treated as live.

If someone needs to get out of the vehicle because of a hazard (such as fire) instruct them to keep their feet close together and to jump away, not walk. This can reduce the chance of an electric shock if wires are on the ground. Only advise this action if the person is unable to remain in the vehicle due to an immediate safety concern.

Safety tips around the home to reduce the risk of electric shock

You can reduce the risk of electric shock in your home by taking a few precautions:

• Don’t be tempted to do your own electrical work. Although you may think it looks easy to do jobs yourself, such as changing power points or switches, always hire a licensed electrician. Check Energy Safe VictoriaExternal Link for a list of registered tradespeople.
• Do not use extension leads or appliances if the cords are damaged or frayed. Throw them away if they are damaged in any way.
• Do not remove a plug from a power point by pulling on the cord – pull the plug instead.
• Keep electrical appliances away from wet areas. Electricity and water don’t mix.
• Wear rubber or plastic soled shoes when using electrical appliances, especially in wet areas, on concrete or outdoors.
• Have safety switches installed by an electrician.
• Buy portable power boards with built-in safety switches.
• Insert safety plugs into unused power points to stop children from inserting objects into them.
• If you have children, turn off and unplug electric appliances and keep them out of reach (this includes electrical cords).
• Get household wiring checked by a registered electrician, especially if your house is more than 30 years old.
• When buying electrical appliancesExternal Link, check they meet Australian safety standards. Be extra cautious when shopping online.
• If you plan to buy second-hand appliances, check they meet Australian standards and are not damaged. It is a good idea to have them checked by someone who is qualified in electrical repairs such as a licensed electrician.
• If you use a metal ladder, make sure it has rubber feet. When metal contacts the ground it can increase the risk of electric shock.

Safety switches

Image courtesy of Energy Safe Victoria

A safety switch (or residual current device) is a safety device used with circuit breakers and fuses in your home to minimise the risk of injury and fires. It monitors electricity flow through a circuit by making sure the flow is even.

Safety switches quickly trip out the power when an electrical problem is detected. They can protect from harmful electric shocks when someone makes contact with a live electrical circuit (such as from faulty electrical leads and appliances) and provides a path to earth. Switches operate within 0.03 seconds.

A safety switch is different to a circuit breaker, which is designed to protect household wiring from power surges.

Where to get help

• In an emergency, call triple zero (000)
• Your GP (doctor)External Link
• NURSE-ON-CALL Tel. 1300 60 60 24 – for expert health advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Energy Safe VictoriaExternal Link
• Your local council
• Your electricity supply company
• Australian Certification DatabaseExternal Link – to check approved electrical appliances
• Dial Before You DigExternal Link – free online referral service for anyone who is undertaking works to find out where underground pipes, cables and utilities are located
• St John Ambulance Australia (first aid courses)External LinkVictoria Tel. 1300 360 455
• Australian Red Cross (first aid and mental health trainingExternal Link) Tel. 1800 733 276

• Electric shock – first aid fact sheetExternal Link, St John Ambulance, Australia.
• Buying safe electrical appliancesExternal Link, Energy Safe Victoria.
• Using electricity safelyExternal Link, Energy Safe Victoria.

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Minor Electric Shocks and Burns: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Electric Shock Overview
• Electric Shock Causes
• Electric Shock Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Electric Shock Treatment Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Prevention
• Outlook
• More

An electric shock occurs when a person comes into contact with an electrical energy source. Electrical energy flows through a portion of the body, causing a shock. Exposure to electrical energy may result in no injury at all or may result in devastating damage or death.

Burns are the most common injury from electric shock.

Adolescents and adults are prone to high-voltage shock caused by mischievous exploration and exposure at work. About 1,000 people in the United States die each year as a result of electrocution. Most of these deaths are related to on-the-job injuries.

Many things determine what injuries may occur, if any. These include the type of current (AC or DC), the amount of current (determined by the voltage of the source and the resistance of the tissues involved), and the pathway the electricity takes through the body. Low-voltage electricity (less than 500 volts) may result in only superficial burns or possibly more severe injuries, depending on the matters above. Exposure to high-voltage electricity (greater than 500 volts) can cause serious damage.

If you are going to help someone who has sustained a high-voltage shock, you need to be very careful that you don’t become a second victim of a similar electrical shock. If a high-voltage line has fallen to the ground, there may be a circle of current spreading out from the tip of the line. Your best bet may be to call 911. The electric company will be notified so that the power can be shut off. A victim who has fallen from a height or gotten a severe shock causing multiple jerks may have a serious neck injury and should not be moved without first protecting the neck.

Children are not often seriously injured by electricity. They are prone to shock by the low voltage (110-220 volts) found in typical household current. In children ages 12 years and younger, household appliance electrical cords and extension cords caused more than 63% of injuries in one study. Wall outlets were responsible for 15% of injuries.

A person who has had an electric shock may have very little external evidence of injury or may have obvious severe burns. The person could even be in cardiac arrest.

• Burns are usually most severe at the points of contact with the electrical source and the ground. The hands, heels, and head are common points of contact.
• In addition to burns, other injuries are possible if the person has been thrown clear of the electrical source by forceful muscular contraction. A spine injury may happen. The person also may have internal injuries, especially if they are having any shortness of breath, chest pain, or abdominal pain.
• Pain in a hand or foot or a deformity of a part of the body may indicate a possible broken bone resulting from the electric shock.
• In children, the typical electrical mouth burn from biting an electric cord appears as a burn on the lip. The area has a red or dark, charred appearance.

For a high-voltage shock, seek care at a hospital’s emergency department. Following a low-voltage shock, call the doctor for the following reasons:

• It has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus booster
• Burns that are not healing well
• Burns with increasing redness, soreness, or drainage
• Any electric shock in a pregnant woman

A person shocked by high voltage (500 volts or more) should be evaluated in the emergency department. It may be prudent to call 911. After a low-voltage shock, go to the emergency department for the following concerns:

• Any noticeable burn to the skin
• Any period of unconsciousness
• Any numbness, tingling, paralysis, vision, hearing, or speech problems
• Confusion
• A hard time breathing
• Seizures
• Any electric shock if you’re more than 20 weeks pregnant
• Any other worrisome symptoms

The 911 emergency personnel may tell you to:

1. Separate the person from the current’s source. To turn off power, unplug an appliance. If the plug is damaged, you man need to shut off power via a circuit breaker, fuse box, or outside switch.

2. If you can’t turn off power, stand on something dry and non-conductive, such as dry newspapers, a telephone book, or wooden board. Try to separate the person from the current using non-conductive object such as wooden or plastic broom handle, chair, or rubber doormat.

3. If high-voltage lines are involved, the local power company must shut them off. Do not try to separate the person from current if you feel a tingling sensation in your legs and lower body. Hop on one foot to a safe place where you can wait for lines to be disconnected. If a power line falls on a car, instruct the passengers to stay inside unless explosion or fire threatens.

4. If the person is not breathing or does not have a pulse, do CPR if you know it. Only do this when you can safely touch the person after they have been disconnected from the current.

5. Wait for 911 emergency services to arrive. 

At the emergency department, the doctor’s primary concern is to find out if there’s unseen injury. Injury may occur to muscles, the heart, or the brain from the electricity or to any bones or other organs from being thrown from the electric source.

The doctor may order various tests, depending on the history and physical examination. Tests may include any or none of the following:

• EKG to check the heart
• Complete blood count
• Blood or urine test or both for muscle enzymes (would indicate significant muscle injury)
• X-rays to look for fractures or dislocations, both of which may be caused by a near electrocution
• CT scan

Brief low-voltage shocks that do not result in any symptoms or burns of the skin do not require care. For any high-voltage shock, or for any shock resulting in burns, seek care at a hospital’s emergency department. A doctor should evaluate electric cord burns to the mouth of a child.

Treatment depends on the how severe the burns are or the nature of other injuries found.

• Burns are treated according to how severe they are.
  • Minor burns may be treated with topical antibiotic ointment and dressings.
  • More severe burns may require surgery to clean the wounds or even skin grafting.
  • Severe burns on the arms, legs, or hands may require surgery to remove damaged muscle or even amputation.
• Other injuries may require treatment.
  • Eye injuries may require examination and treatment by an ophthalmologist, an eye specialist.
  • Broken bones require splinting, casting, or surgery to stabilize the bones.
  • Internal injuries may require observation or surgery.

Steps to prevent electrical injury depend on the age of people involved.

• For children younger than 12, most electrical injuries are caused by power cords. Inspect your power cords and extension cords. Replace any cords that have a broken or cracked external covering and any cord that has exposed wire.
  • Do not allow children to play with any electrical cord.
  • Limit the use of extension cords, and be sure the cord is rated for the current (measured in amps) that will be drawn by the device being powered.
  • Use outlet covers to protect infants from exploring electrical outlets.
  • Update old, ungrounded electrical outlets to grounded (three-prong) systems. Replace outlets near any water (sink, tub) with fused (GFCI) outlets.
• In children older than 12, most electrical injuries result from exploring and activities around high-power systems. Explain to adolescent children that they should not climb on power towers, play near transformer systems, or explore electrified train rails or other electrical systems.
• Among adults, use of common sense can help reduce electrical injury. Always check that the power is off before working on electrical systems. Avoid use of Don’t use electrical devices near water. Be careful of standing in water when working with electricity.
• Use caution when outdoors during a thunderstorm. Protect yourself from lightning strikes by seeking shelter in a sturdy building or crouching low and away from trees and metal objects if caught outdoors.

Recovery from electric shock depends on the how severe the injuries are and their nature. The percentage of the body surface area burned is the most important factor affecting prognosis.

If someone who has received an electric shock does not have cardiac arrest right away and does not have severe burns, they are likely to survive.

Infection is the most common cause of death in people hospitalized after an electrical injury.

Electrical damage to the brain may result in a permanent seizure disorder, depression, anxiety, or other personality changes.

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Why does everything shock and what to do in this case? 0002 Share on Google Plus

Content:

• 1 Reasons why people get electric shocks
• 2 Why people get electric shocks
• 3 Why doesn’t every person get electric shocks?
• 4 Why water pulsates
• 5 How to remove static electricity

We can safely say that every person in one way or another had to experience an electric discharge. Not only an electrical appliance can be shocked, but also a person. Bioelectrical impulses appear when life is born and disappear with the onset of death. Consider how contact with electricity affects a person and how to avoid it.

Reasons for getting electric shock

There are people who often get electric shock from everything. What is the reason for this phenomenon is sometimes completely incomprehensible. Obviously, an electric shock can be obtained by touching an object that is energized over 36 V. In this case, a circuit occurs through the body, an electric shock is obtained. But a person receives a discharge from things that are far from tension.

Static electricity is the reason why everything is electric. It occurs when charges accumulate on the surface of physical bodies that are poor conductors of electric current. For some time they persist, then a discharge occurs, causing discomfort.

Electrostatic charges are generated by friction, so they build up faster in winter when the air gets drier and the person wears woolen, fur and synthetic clothing.

Why a person is shocked

It can be said that a person is a kind of electrical system, so he is shocked when there is a large accumulation of electric charges. This happens for two reasons:

1. The body, like a mini-power plant, produces its own electric currents . They are not felt by a person, and they can only be measured with ultra-sensitive instruments. Part of the biocurrents is used to maintain the vital activity of the body, and the excess is converted into static energy.
2. Static electricity from outside . On the surface of any substance, an electric charge, positive or negative, can accumulate (the so-called triboelectric effect). Electrification occurs when objects are heated or cooled, irradiated with energy sources when a friction force acts on them. Synthetics, fur, wool, hair are especially strongly electrified (but cotton fabrics, wood, glass are not “charged”).

The human body is well electrified. This is facilitated by the lack of grounding, wearing clothes and the fact that his skin is covered with hairs. When a person touches an “uncharged” person with a hand or other part of the body, a discharge occurs, which is manifested by crackling or tingling. Often bioelectricity of great strength hits its owner painfully: he is shocked by everything he touches.

Why doesn’t every person get an electric shock?

Each person accumulates a different amount of electrostatic charges, because he has individual resistance and electric capacity (the ability to accumulate electricity). There is a theory according to which the amount of biocurrents produced also depends on the psycho-emotional state.

High static stress in humans is a phenomenon that scientists still cannot figure out. Such people (there are few of them, they lived at all times) withstand mains voltage of 220 V and above, so they calmly take the wires with their bare hands. Their body can be used as a conductor to light a light bulb, but touching a carrier of extreme bioelectricity is dangerous.

Why water is electric

Water is a conductor of electricity, so if there is an intersection between electrical wiring and plumbing, when washing hands from the tap, an electric shock can be felt. The reason for this phenomenon may be the following:

• lack of proper grounding in the apartment;
• damaged bathroom wiring insulation;
• failure in the electrical network of the apartment;
• installation of sockets, switches, lamps not intended for operation in damp rooms;
• use of water pipes for grounding;
• failure of the heating element in the boiler, column, washing machine;
• ungrounded electric stove or dishwasher located in the kitchen near the sink.

Neighbors can create a problem by connecting the neutral wire to the water pipe, stealing electricity. This can be checked by de-energizing your apartment: if the water is electric, then the reason is from outside.

How to remove static electricity

In everyday life, static electricity creates a lot of unpleasant moments, so here are a few recommendations that will tell you what to do to remove the increased charge:

• Wear cotton underwear.
• Add fabric softener after washing.
• Use special products (“anti-static agents”) for synthetic, silk, wool and carpeted clothing.
• Do not use plastic combs, but wooden or metal combs.
• Attach a metal pin to the inside of the garment.
• Walk barefoot on a wooden floor, and in summer on the ground.
• Wear anti-static wrist straps when working with electrical equipment.

One of the best ways to remove static electricity is to moisturize. The static charge caused by contact with synthetic clothing will decrease by 1.5 times if the air is humidified from 40 to 60%. For this purpose, special devices are used, more often they ventilate the room. A good effect is the unfolding of a wet towel on the radiators.

Anti-static belts that come into contact with the road are used to remove static electricity from the body of the car, and special devices are built into modern cars for this. The apartment uses a special potential equalization system, which is combined with the ground loop. To quickly remove an electrostatic charge from yourself, you need to touch a metal object to any grounded metal.

It is impossible to avoid contact with electric charges, they surround a person everywhere, they are inside him. Biocurrents, small in power, do not harm life and health. But their regular exposure can cause malfunctions in the body, lead to death. Therefore, you need to regularly get rid of static electricity.

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What to do if I am shocked 24/7?

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The reasons for this phenomenon and possible ways to combat it

February 6, 2020, 11:55

The shortest touch to anyone is a small flash and a slight electric shock. Those who are constantly faced with this have repeatedly asked themselves the question: why is this happening? Of course, you can consider the constant production of electricity by the body as a kind of superpower, but it is unlikely to be used for good. The reasons for this phenomenon are different, and they take root in different areas: from esotericism to oncology. PRIMPRESS found the simplest explanations for this phenomenon and equally simple ways to combat it.

Firstly, , static electricity is what occurs during the friction of an object against an object, respectively, the reason may not be only in you. Absolutely everything accumulates a charge – from shoes to hair, in which case you can try some simple ways to “release tension”.

Hold a metal object in your fist (the object should not be too small) and touch the battery. In this case, you will not feel the impact, but the charge will be less.

Spraying clothes with anti-static spray also helps, but you have to get used to the constant smell of chemicals.