Knowing what to do in the event of an electric shock is very important because, in addition to helping to avoid consequences for the victim, such as severe burns or cardiac arrest, it also protects the person who performs the rescue from the dangers of electrical energy.
In these cases, first aid is:
1.Cut or unplug the power supply, but do not touch the victim;
2.Keep the person away from the electrical source causing the discharge, using dry and non-conductive materials such as wood, plastic, thick cloth or rubber;
3. Call an ambulance, call 192;
4. Note if the person is conscious and breathing;
5.Continue to take the previous step until medical help arrives.
The chances of saving the electrocuted victim diminish with time and after the fourth minute of receiving the electric shock, the chances of survival are less than 50%.
Therefore, these first aid measures should be initiated as soon as possible, especially the first step, to prevent the electrical current from causing too much damage to the body and causing serious complications.
In addition to the immediate risk of death, when the current is very high, an electric shock can affect the body in different ways, such as:
Most accidents with electric shocks cause only minor burns to the skin at the site of the discharge; However, when the voltage is very high, excess electricity can affect the internal organs.
When electricity reaches the internal organs, it can cause serious functioning problems and therefore the person may need treatment for kidney, heart or other affected organ, for example.
When a small electrical current passes through the chest and reaches the heart, it can cause atrial fibrillation, which is a type of cardiac arrhythmia that must be treated in the hospital so as not to endanger the victim’s life.
When the electric current is very high, as in the case of discharges at the high voltage poles, the current is so high that it interferes with the electrical activity of the heart and muscle, causing a cardiac arrest that can lead to death.
All electrical currents can affect nerves in one form or another, so in case of repeated or very strong shocks, the structure of the nerves can be affected, causing neuropathy, which can cause symptoms such as pain or numbness in the legs and arms, difficulty moving the muscles or frequent dizziness, for example.
Watch the following video as well and learn how to prepare to help the 5 most common household accidents: