Children are curious and they naturally don’t know that you can’t put anything into the interesting socket with the two holes. They also do not know that electrical appliances must not come into contact with water. Therefore, a child’s curiosity and eagerness to experiment does not stand in the way of an electrical device whose plug has been pulled out.
Preventive measures
If there are children in the household or if you often have children visiting, it is important to childproof your home.
- Provide all electrical outlets with child safety locks. This also applies to permanently connected devices such as TV, stove, refrigerator or lamps.
- Accidents with a hairdryer are common: it should therefore not be stuck in the socket and preferably not stored freely accessible.
- Regularly check their electrical wiring and your appliances for damage.
By the way, outdoors, the greatest danger comes from high-voltage lines. Therefore, you should fly kites only at a proper distance from these lines.
What happens in an electrical accident?
A severe electric shock is usually caused by a human body getting caught in an electric circuit. The extent of the damage depends on how strong the current is, how long it affects the body, and what course the current flow takes in the body.
This current flow is particularly dangerous for the heart and brain. If the heart is affected, this can lead to cardiac arrhythmia or even fibrillation. In such a condition, the heart can no longer beat regularly and can no longer transport blood to the vital organs. In the worst case, cardiac arrest is imminent.
Other consequences may include:
- Epileptic seizures,
- Disorientation disorders,
- Memory lapses,
- Dizziness,
- Unconsciousness to the
- Shock
Warning: cardiac arrhythmias can occur even hours after the accident. Therefore, even after a mildly ended electrical accident, a doctor must be consulted. The child is connected to a monitor for a time for monitoring and gets an ECG written. In addition, burns and severe damage to the tissue can occur. Especially under the burns of the skin at the entry and exit points of the current, the so-called current marks, there may be severe tissue damage (not visible at first glance).
First aid measures
The most important goal is to break the circuit or disconnect the child from the power source without endangering yourself. If the child is still in contact with the power source, you may be electrocuted yourself:
- Disconnect circuit: Turn off the device, pull the plug or unscrew the fuse.
If this is not possible:
- Separate the child from the power source: For this purpose, use a non-conductive object (e.g., a wooden broomstick) or wrap a dry towel or other non-conductive fabric around a part of the body and pull it away with it.
- Keep child warm and soothe
- Notify emergency physician
- Check state of consciousness, breathing and pulse several times
- If unconscious with breathing present: place child in the recovery position. In case of cardiac arrest: immediately begin resuscitation measures.
