Dawna L. Cyr and Steven
B. Johnson, Ph.D.
University of Maine
First
Aid For Electrical Accidents
- Disconnect
the appliances or turn off the power if a person
is undergoing electric shock.
- Cover
associated electric shock burns with a dry sterile
dressing only.
- Never
touch a person undergoing electric shock or
you too could become a victim.
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First Aid for Electric
Shock Victims
- Don't
touch them!
- Unplug
the appliance or turn off the power at the control panel.
- If
you can't turn off the power, use a piece of wood, like
a broom handle, dry rope or dry clothing, to separate the
victim from the power source.
- Do
not try to move a victim touching a high voltage wire. Call
for emergency help.
Keep
the victim lying down. Unconscious victims should be placed
on their side to allow drainage of fluids. Do not move the
victim if there is a suspicion of neck or spine injuries
unless absolutely necessary.
- If
the victim is not breathing, apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
If the victim has no pulse, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR). Then cover the victim with a blanket to maintain
body heat, keep the victim's head low and get medical attention.
First Aid for Electrical
Burn Victims
Electrical burns vary in severity depending upon: (1) how
long the body is in contact with the electric current; (2)
the strength of the current; (3) the type of current; and
(4) the direction the current takes though the body. Often
these burns are deep. There may be more than one area burned.
One area may be where the current entered the body and another
may be where it left. Electrical burn wounds may look minor
on the outside, but could be severe on the inside.
If a
person has received an electrical burn, check for shock and
follow the steps outlined above. If the person is conscious
and there are no signs of shock (such as being cold, clammy,
pale and having a rapid pulse), begin treating the burned
area. Do not apply grease or oil to the burn. Cover the burn
with a dry, sterile dressing, but do not cool the burn. Keep
the victim from getting chilled. Seek medical attention as
soon as possible.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
Maine Farm Safety Fact Sheet is part of an educational fact
sheet series produced by the University of Maine Cooperative
Extension. For more information on farm safety, contact your
county Extension office.
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