First Aid: Electrical Shocks
Seek medical help if any of the following is true:
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The skin is burned.
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The victim acts dazed or confused.
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The victim is unconscious for any length of time.
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The victim was in contact with electrical current or lightning, even if he or she appears normal.
Call 911 immediately if the victim has any of the following:
While you wait for help:
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Reassure the person.
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Treat for shock or provide rescue breathing or CPR, if needed.
If a car is trapped beneath a downed power line, don`t touch the car. Tell the occupants to stay in the car. Note: The rubber wheels offer protection from the current only to the people inside the car.
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1
Stop the Source
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To stop current coming from an outlet, unplug the power cord or switch off circuit breakers or unscrew fuses.
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To stop current in power lines, call the local power company and fire department.
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Don't risk severe electric shock by approaching downed power lines.
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Don't use a tree limb to lift downed power lines. Moisture in the wood may conduct electricity from the lines to you.
2
Check Breathing
3
Care for Injuries
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Treat physical shock by elevating the person's legs and covering the upper body.
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Look for burns where the current entered and left the body, usually on a hand and foot.
Lightning Strike
Lightning is electrical current that flashes from the clouds to the ground. It can travel through a body's cells to reach the ground. Injuries common to lightning strike include burns, heart problems, bone and spinal column fractures, memory loss, and damage to hearing or eyesight.
Publication Source:
Pruitt Jr. BA, Cecil Medicine, 23rd ed., Chapter 112 - Electric Injury, 2007, pp 788-789
Online Medical Reviewer:
Keyes, Linda MD
Date Last Reviewed:
6/1/2005
Date Last Modified:
6/1/2005