FIRST AID IN ELECTRIC SHOCK

Electrocution, the term for all injuries caused by the passage of electric current through the body, is
a potentially fatal injury in which first aid plays an essential role in survival and limiting possible
injuries.
The conduct in this case varies depending on several factors, from the age of the victim and the
speed of the rescue intervention, to the humidity level at the scene of the accident.
The danger associated with electrocution depends on the type of electric current to which the victim
was exposed, how high the voltage is, how the current circulated through the body of the injured
person and the health of the person electrocuted.
Symptoms of electrocution include:
• cardiac arrest;
• respiratory failure;
• muscle pain and contractions;
•Burns;
•Seizures;
• numbness;
• tingling;
• unconsciousness.
Generally, high voltage of electric current causes skin burns and internal burns, while low voltage
produces cardiac and neurological damage.
The victim's resistance to electrocution depends both on his age (children have a reduced resistance
of the skin, suffering more severe burns) and on the health of the electrocuted person (cardiac
patients have a higher risk of death).
It is very important for the rescuer to intervene in the first 5 minutes, so that reanimation has
maximum chances of success. The mandatory first aid measures in electrocution are as follows:
• Cut off any power source, otherwise you can put your own life in danger. If you cannot do this,
remove the victim from the source of electricity with a non-current-conducting object (wood,
plastic, rubber, thick textile, etc.), making sure not to step on a wet surface. If possible, wear rubber
gloves for better body insulation when touching the victim.
If the patient is conscious, place him in the lateral safety position and wrap him in a blanket (or a
special thermal insulation material, if you have a first aid kit at hand).
• Bandage burn wounds and immobilize the fracture with splints, if necessary. Urgently transport the
victim to the hospital or wait for the emergency crew to arrive.
• If the patient is unconscious, immediately check vital signals (breathing, pulse) and urgently start
cardio-respiratory resuscitation (perform 5 chest compressions alternately with 2 mouth-to-mouth
insufflations).
• If the patient is unconscious but has a pulse and is breathing, place him in a safe position, bandage
the wounds and transport him to the hospital (or wait for the emergency medical crew to arrive).
Other important precautions are not to touch the victim with your bare hands if they are in direct
contact with electricity, not to approach high-voltage electrical wires until you make sure they are
unpowered, and to stay at least 6 meters away from them if you notice sparks.
It is equally important not to move the victim with an injury caused by electric current, unless there
is an immediate danger that needs to be avoided (especially high humidity).