Electric Shock: First Aid

In cases where a person has been exposed to electric current, emergency action is necessary. What are these actions, and how to perform them, we will tell in order.

Electric current exemption

If the victim is under the constant influence of an electric current, first of all, by any available means, he must be exempted from this effect, breaking the person’s contact with electricity. After all, the longer the duration of the current exposure, the worse the consequences.

The easiest and safest way is to simply turn off the circuit breaker or machine. But, unfortunately, this method may not be the fastest, since the electric shield can be located far enough, or even not accessible to the person saving the person. In such cases, it is easiest to free the victim by discarding him from live parts, but at the same time follow some safety rules so as not to suffer himself.

First of all, one should not touch unprotected hands to a person who has been exposed to current, nor should one approach him. It is best to discard it from the conductor using a board or a sufficiently thick stick. In this case, you should pay attention to the fact that the board must be dry, otherwise another case of electric shock is possible. This time the most saving one.

If you don’t have a board or stick at hand, you can simply drag the victim by wrapping your hands, at least grabbing at the floors of clothes with a plastic bag. If the clothes are dry, then you can pull them away with your hands not protected, better than one. But this is a last resort.

Another way to get rid of electric current, which is recommended in all safety manuals, is to simply cut the current-carrying cable with a sharp object with an insulated handle.

For this purpose, an ax or shovel with a wooden handle, naturally dry, is best suited. But this method itself is quite dangerous, because at the time of cutting the cable, a short circuit occurs, accompanied by an electric arc, and if the cable is thick enough, it will practically explode. The rescuer can get burns on the skin and the retina, so you need to be extremely careful, at least just close your eyes at the time of the outbreak. All described methods and measures are suitable if the voltage does not exceed 400V.

After it was possible to free the victim from the action of electric current, it is necessary to provide him with first aid first aid and, of course, call a doctor.

First aid in case of electric shock

Freed from the action of the current, the victim should be conveniently laid on a flat surface with soft litter. After this, rub the limbs, if necessary, to release the nasal and oral cavities from mucus and blood. To ensure the influx of fresh air, unfasten clothing, loosen the waist belt, and for the influx of fresh air into the room, it is advisable to open windows and doors.

If the victim is in an unconscious state, give him sniff ammonia or at least spray his face with cold water. It is very useful for a person who has come to their senses to give a sedative or cardiac remedy, valerian or Corvalol.

But sometimes the consequences can be more serious. First of all, this is uneven breathing or its absence at all, the pulse is intermittent or not felt at all, the skin may take a bluish or pale hue. In such a situation, more serious measures should be taken, such as artificial respiration and indirect heart massage.Both of these procedures are described in great detail in various medical literature, so we will not describe them here.

Even if everything, it would seem, worked out well, the person remained alive, and no outwardly noticeable signs were noticeable, anyway, the victim must be hospitalized for some time, placed under the supervision of a doctor. The fact is that the consequences of the lesion can occur in a few hours or even days.

How to avoid electric shock

The risk of electric shock exists not only in production, but, if not to a greater extent, in everyday life when using household electrical equipment: after all, a person working directly with electrical installations is still theoretically and practically prepared. Compliance with the rather simple rules and recommendations below will greatly reduce the likelihood of electric shock.

You should never touch live parts of mechanisms or equipment unless there is absolute certainty that they are de-energized. First you need to make sure that there is no voltage with the help of devices: a voltmeter, indicator screwdriver or just a bulb with wires. Electricians affectionately call such a bulb "control". Also, do not forget that if there is no tension, then it can appear at any moment.

It should also be noted that in some, even completely de-energized devices, an electric charge is retained for a long time. Therefore, a plug removed from the outlet can become a source of a fairly sensitive electric shock. Of course, such a blow is not fatal, but can cause quite unpleasant consequences. If the work is done at height, then involuntary movement can cause a loss of balance and a fall.

To avoid accidental contact with live parts, attention must be paid to warning signs. They are installed not just for the sake of beauty.

You should never touch the electrical wires and electrical appliances with wet hands, and in general, monitor the humidity in the room. If flooding suddenly occurs, the wiring should be turned off until the room is completely dry.

When carrying out electrical installation and repair work, you should use a working, proven tool: even a small insulation crack on the handle of the pliers can lead to an electric shock.

Never touch household electrical equipment connected to the network and objects connected to grounding, such as water pipes or radiators, at the same time. If the insulation of the device "breaks" onto the body, then an electric shock, and of sufficient strength, is provided.

If it comes to a fire in the wiring or a household appliance that is plugged in, never try to put out the fire with water. Water conducts electricity well, so an electric shock through a stream of water is almost guaranteed. Of course, a lighted-up appliance can be put out with water if you first pull the plug out of the socket.

Never use electrical appliances if they have external signs of malfunction. First of all, these are cracks in the insulation or the plastic case, traces of soot, etc. the implementation of these simple instructions and recommendations will, if not negate, then greatly reduce the risk of electric shock.