Brief overview
- What to do in case of electric shock? Switch off the current, if unconscious keep the patient in the recovery position and resuscitate if necessary, otherwise: calm the victim, cover burns with sterile dressings, call the emergency services.
- When to see a doctor? Every electrical accident should be examined by a doctor and treated if necessary, for example because health consequences can occur with a delay of several hours.
Attention
- Do not touch an injured person under any circumstances until the power has been switched off! This applies especially to accidents on high-voltage lines.
- Take any electric shock seriously. Health problems such as cardiac arrhythmia may still occur hours later!
First aid for electric shock
- Dial 911 or ask another first responder to do so.
- Before administering first aid in case of electrocution, you should disarm the power source for your own safety: Unplug the electrical appliance or unscrew the fuse. If necessary, you can remove a power cable from the affected person with the help of a wooden whisk. Be careful not to put yourself in danger.
- Check whether the victim is responsive, i.e. conscious.
Further first aid for electrocution (low voltage) depends on whether the injured person is conscious or not:
The injured person is conscious:
- Reassure him.
- Cover any existing electric shock marks on the skin of the casualty in a sterile manner.
- Keep the casualty warm (e.g. with a blanket).
- Stay with him until the ambulance arrives.
The casualty is unconscious:
- Check the casualty’s breathing.
- Put the casualty in the recovery position.
- Continue resuscitation (if necessary, alternating with a second first aider) until the victim is breathing on his own again or the rescue service arrives.
Electrocution: When to see a doctor?
Tiny electric shocks caused by electrostatic discharge, for example when touching a door handle or a synthetic fiber sweater, are harmless. No doctor is needed here.
Electrocution: Risks
Also influencing the possible consequences of an electrical accident is the type of current – direct current (e.g. car battery, lightning strike) is less dangerous to the body than alternating current (e.g. household current) because the latter is more likely to trigger cardiac arrhythmias due to the change in polarity.
Overall, the main health consequences and risks associated with electrocution are as follows:
- Electricity marks (burns) on the skin areas where the current enters and leaves the body.
- Muscle spasms under electric current (so the person may not be able to let go of the causing electric cable in his hand)
- respiratory arrest due to cramping of the respiratory muscles
- Cardiac arrhythmias (sometimes even hours after the electric shock) up to life-threatening ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest
Electrocution: Examinations by a doctor
Cardiac activity, for example, can be checked and monitored by electrocardiography (ECG). If necessary, blood and urine tests, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI or magnetic resonance imaging) are also useful to investigate suspected organ damage. If the ECG is abnormal or there is chest pain, the patient must remain in the hospital for several hours for observation. This also applies to pregnant patients.
Electrocution: Treatment by the doctor
Treatment for electrocution depends on the type and extent of the injuries.
Prevent electrocution
The most important tips to avoid electrocution are:
- Be careful when handling electrical appliances and live wires – especially when water is also involved (i.e. in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room).
- Do not take a telephone, hair dryer or radio into the bathtub.
- Turn off the power before putting on new lights.
- Secure sockets and lay cables out of reach if you have (small) children in the house.
- Have electrical devices (including those in the workplace) serviced regularly and check that they are properly connected so that neither you nor others get an electric shock.