An electric shock results from the flow of electricity through the human body. An electric shock can only lead to a temporary loss of consciousness and, in extreme cases, even death. Check what are the effects of contact with external power sources and what the first aid in case of electric shock looks like.

Electric shockis the result of electric current flowing through the human body. The most common electric shock is 220V, flowing in domestic electrical installations.

Contents:

  1. Electric shock - causes
  2. Electric shock - symptoms
  3. Electric shock - effects
  4. Electric shock - first aid

Electric shock - causes

Electric shock is most often caused by improper handling of electrical household appliances, e.g. touching connected appliances with wet hands or drying hair with a dryer while showering.

Electric shockcan also be the result of design defects in household electrical devices (e.g. damage to the mains cord or a faulty plug).

Another, less frequent cause of electric shock is contact with high-voltage lines.

Electric shock - symptoms

The usual symptom of an electric shock is unconsciousness. The injured person falls to the ground, his hands suddenly clenched - most often there is an electric wire in his clenched hand.

At the point of contact with the current, skin burns are observed, sometimes very extensive.

Electric shock - effects

The effects of contact with an electric current source depend on many factors, such as:

  • type of current - an electric shock can occur as a result of contact with direct current or alternating current, which is more dangerous than direct current
  • voltage height - with voltage>100 V the skin does not resist
  • operating time of the current - if the duration of the current flow through the body does not exceed 0.1-0.5 s, the consequences of electric shock are usually significantly alleviated
  • way of flow - the most dangerous are the shocks where the current flows along the way hand - back, hand - hand or hand - legs
  • skin temperature and humidity - moist skin has much less resistance than dry skin because moisture is a good conductor of electricity. The current then flows freely through the body

The effects of an electric shock may include unconsciousness and muscle spasms, making the electrocuted person unable to free themselves from the power source. This spasm only disappears when the power is turned off and may cause sprains and bone fractures.

Electric shock may also cause burns at the point where the electricity enters and exits the body. In extreme cases, tissue necrosis and carbonization may occur.

The effects of electric shock may also include respiratory arrest and ventricular fibrillation (these shrink rapidly at a rate of up to 600 beats per minute, preventing them from pumping blood into the body's cells), which may result in cardiac arrest, and consequently death.

Electric shock - first aid

When trying to save the victim of an electric shock, be very careful not to electrocute yourself.

Therefore, first cut the victim off the power source as soon as possible - switch off the fuses, and then disconnect the plug from the electric device that caused the shock.

Do this with a wooden or plastic brush stick (under no circumstances use metal or copper objects as they are electrically conductive). Only then you can approach the victim.

A simpler, but more risky method is to drag the injured person away from the power source with a wooden stick. Do this while standing on a rubber pad or a bundle of newspapers (you can also wear rubber boots). Then call an ambulance.

Help the injured person until the ambulance arrives:

  • if conscious and does not require urgent on-site intervention, wait for an ambulance
  • if he is unconscious but is breathing, circulation is maintained and at the same time spinal injury and shock can be excluded, place him in the recovery position
  • if the injured is not breathing, give artificial respiration and, if necessary, compress the heart
  • if you find symptoms of shock (pale, cold skin that is drenched with sweat, the injured is shivering, has an increased pulse rate) place the injured in the anti-shock position - on the back, legs elevated.

If the electric shock occurred in the open air, e.g. due to a power failure, first take care of your safety and do not approach the transmission line elements on theless than 5 m away, as electricity is carried by moist soil and air and you could get electrocuted.

If you are in the risk zone, do not step on the ground, only if possible, on a dry board or something wooden or rubber.

Help should be limited to notifying the ambulance service. When reporting an accident, please inform that it concerns a high voltage electric shock.

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