What to do if a person is electrocuted. First necessary aid to an injured person

At first glance, in our time, even children know what electricity is, how to handle it and what not to do, but alas, regardless of age, injuries of varying severity from electric shock occur. This can happen to anyone: due to ignorance, carelessness or inattention. You might touch a bare wire or snag a loose socket. In the second case, an electric shock will not be as dangerous as with a bare wire. If you were not the victim of the blow, but you are just an observer, you have a chance to save someone’s life; if you did suffer, the main thing is to remain conscious and act strictly according to instructions. So, I got an electric shock, what should I do?

A person was electrocuted, what to do and how to help

Electric shock, what to do, what are the symptoms

Electric shock should be understood as damage to organs and systems due to electrical trauma. This is a very insidious type of injury - the consequences of an electric shock can be both visible and invisible.

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Visible consequences include burns, pain, disturbances in heart rhythm and respiratory rhythm. Invisible, invisible at first glance, but no less dangerous.

They can be determined by the following indicators:

• Skin spots. The most visible sign you need to pay attention to. When receiving an electric shock, depending on the severity, gray and black spots form on the body.
• Muscle contraction. When a person comes into contact with a current source, he begins to experience a strong contraction of muscle tissue.
• Loss of consciousness. Occurs when a powerful electric shock occurs and, for a while, a person may lose consciousness.

If any of the above signs of electrical injury are present in a person, he needs immediate help.

First aid for electric shock

Types of electric shock

• electric shock (causes shock) - affects the entire body, it does not cause burns, but immediately leads to respiratory and/or cardiac paralysis
• electrical trauma - affects the external parts of the body, its traces: signs, burns, metallization of the skin.

The effects of electric currents on the body

1. Thermal - occurs due to the resistance of body tissues when electrical energy turns into thermal energy. This phenomenon causes electrical burns at the points where current enters and exits, which are called current marks. As thermal energy passes through tissue, it changes and destroys it.
2. Electrochemical - organic in nature, leads to thickening and gluing of blood cells, the movement of ions and a change in the charge of protein molecules, the formation of vapors and gases. The affected tissues take on a cellular appearance.
3. Biological - provokes disruption of the skeletal muscles of the heart, nervous and other systems.

Electric shock, symptoms of damage

• If a person has an unpleasant contact with an electric current on the street, he may suddenly fall, lose consciousness, or be thrown away from the current source with an unknown force.
• In addition to loss of consciousness, signs such as convulsions are also observed.
• Pronounced, involuntary muscle contractions.
• Destabilization of neurological functions - memory loss, impaired orientation in space, disruption of speech and vision, changes in skin sensitivity, pupil reaction to light.
• Ventricular fibrillation with respiratory arrest means an irregular pulse and irregular breathing.
• Burns on the body with sharply defined boundaries.

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Signs on the skin

In certain areas of the skin, as a result of exposure to electric current, necrosis of external tissues occurs at the entry and exit points due to the transition of energy from electrical to thermal. Electrical burns are not always limited to just marks on the skin; quite often you can find deeper tissue damage: muscles, tendons, bones. There are options when the lesion is localized under externally intact skin.

• Shape - oval, round or linear. The edges are slightly raised, along with a sunken middle, it looks like a roller. There is a detachment of the top layer in the form of bubbles, inside of which there is no liquid.
• The color is often pale, a pale gray lighter than the surrounding skin.
• Sensitivity - absence of pain in the areas of burn marks, due to damage to nerve endings.
• Signs: deposits of metal particles on the skin. If there was a low voltage current injury, then these deposits remain on the surface of the skin, and if there was a high voltage electric shock, they remain inside the skin. The color of these signs varies depending on the metal in the conductor: copper - blue-yellow particles, iron - brown. The hair shafts are twisted into spirals, maintaining the structure.

Electrical injury concept

Electric shock of varying severity resulting from exposure to electricity of man-made or natural origin is called electrical injury. It manifests itself in the form of external disorders of the skin (electrical burns) and functional changes in internal organs.

Electrical injury is accompanied by:

• cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmia;
• painful muscle contractions, cramps;
• sensation of a jerk or jolt at the moment of impact;
• disturbance of consciousness;
• signs of suffocation, breathing problems.

Degrees and classification (electric shock what to do)

Whatever the condition of the victim, after providing first aid, you should immediately call an ambulance or take the person to a medical facility. Death from electric shock can occur within a few hours. The external picture does not reflect internal damage after electric shock.

Nota Bene!

Electric shock is especially dangerous when a person is not expecting it. This often happens when the rules for using household appliances are violated, children experiment with sockets, as well as dangerous behavior on the street: swimming in illuminated fountains, playing near electrical substations, climbing on the roofs of houses, etc. To prevent electrical injuries, follow safety precautions at work, carefully read the instructions for new equipment, protect household outlets with plastic plugs, and explain to children the dangers of electric current.

Created using materials:

1. Bondin V.I., Lysenko A.V. Life safety. – Rn/D: Phoenix, 2003.
2. Mankov V.D. The danger of electric shock to a person and the procedure for providing first aid in case of accidents at work. – UMITS Electroservice, 2008.
3. Chanturia A. S. Damaging effect of electric current. – M.: MGMI, 2002.

If a person is electrocuted, what to do first aid

What should you do if someone close to you was electrocuted in your presence? The most important thing is not to panic. Perform all actions very quickly, without delays and unnecessary lamentations. Timely provision of assistance can save lives and reduce the severity of electrical injury.

It is necessary to separate the victim from the power source as quickly as possible

How to determine if a person has been electrocuted

So, to avoid becoming a victim yourself, carefully unplug the plug from the socket. Do this only if it is not damaged (otherwise it is better not to touch it). Try turning off the current through an external switch or fuse box.

What to do when it is impossible to turn off the electricity? You need to place something under your feet that does not conduct current: a wooden chair or board is best, but you can also use a stack of dry newspapers, a book, a rubber mat, even glass will do. Take another dielectric in your hands - a wooden or plastic mop handle, a wooden chair, a rubber mat rolled into a tube - and try to move the victim away from the voltage source.

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Do not touch the victim with your bare hands under any circumstances: you risk receiving a fatal dose of stress.

No matter what you do, if you feel a tingling sensation in your legs or lower body, leave immediately. It is best to move not by steps, but by jumping on one leg until the symptom disappears. Remember - if you get hurt, you will not be able to help anyone else or yourself.

Electric shock - call an ambulance

If you cannot cope on your own, call an ambulance

Call an ambulance or your local emergency number (whichever comes first) if the injured person has:

• visible burns;
• labored breathing;
• muscle cramps or pain;
• confusion or loss of consciousness;
• problems with the heart rhythm (arrhythmia) or the heart does not beat at all.

Electric shock, what to do, how to lay the victim down

Place the person in a horizontal position and cover

Place the person who has been electrocuted horizontally and cover

For the conscious victim, place him or her comfortably. Definitely on your back, preferably on a hard surface. A person who has been electrocuted should not be disturbed until the ambulance arrives. While waiting, you do not need to do anything; the victim should lie down until he feels better.

Once you have laid down the victim's body, do not move it. It’s better to cover it with a rug or blanket and throw on some warm clothes. This is necessary to prevent a person from becoming hypothermic, because an electric shock causes circulatory problems.

Electric shock, what to do if burns appear

Cover the burns, place a cushion under your feet

Got an electric shock, what should I do if there are burns?

Another possible consequence of an electric shock is burns. If any are found on the injured person, he should be covered with sterile gauze or a clean, smooth cloth. But this should be done only when the person is conscious and his condition allows him to remove or cut clothes in the burned areas.

When dressing burns, the main thing to avoid is the mistake of not using towels or other fibrous fabric. It will stick to the burns, which will only worsen the skin damage later.

of shock appear - vomiting, weakness, severe pallor - slightly raise your legs, placing a cushion of things under your feet.

Raise your legs slightly, placing a cushion of things under your feet

Artificial respiration (electric shock, what to do)

Listen to the victim's breathing. If he breathes rarely and is poorly perceptible, or even does not breathe at all, immediately begin mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration.

Specialists from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia recommend that when providing first aid to a victim of an electric shock, kneel next to the victim, tilt his head back, and place one hand under the back of his head.

At this time, with your second hand you need to lightly press on his forehead so that his chin is in line with his neck. Then a piece of gauze or a handkerchief should be placed on the oral cavity. Then, with your index finger and thumb, pinch the person’s nose and begin to forcefully inhale air into his mouth.

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The first breaths (5-10 times) should be fast and frequent (in 20-30 seconds), the subsequent pace can be reduced to one breath every 5-6 seconds. To make sure that you are doing everything correctly, carefully monitor the victim’s chest. It should rise upward, with your diligence, which means you are acting correctly.

Indirect cardiac massage (electric shock, what to do)

Listen to the victim's breathing. If he breathes rarely and is poorly perceptible, or even does not breathe at all, immediately begin mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration.

Indirect cardiac massage

Indirect cardiac massage! An effective method if a person has no pulse along with a heartbeat. Artificial respiration alone is not enough; indirect cardiac massage is necessary.

Attention! Do it only if there really is no pulse. If there is a palpitation, indirect cardiac massage is strictly prohibited.

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Treatment

Treatment of the consequences of electrical injuries can be conservative, aimed at restoring the functioning of vital systems of the body, or require surgical intervention.

Medicines

As an emergency aid to a victim with cardiac fibrillation, in the absence of special equipment (defibrillator), one of the pacemaker substances is injected into the heart or artery:

• novocaine solution 1% – 10 ml;
• adrenaline solution 0.1% - 1 ml;
• calcium chloride 10% - from 5 to 10 ml intravenously.

To normalize hemodynamics and restore water-electrolyte balance in the body of a patient in shock, infusion therapy with plasma-substituting and electrolytic solutions is performed:

• Reopolyglucin - administered intravenously in a stream or drip method, depending on the severity of the damage and the molecular weight of the solution, from 20 ml per 1 kg of weight to 2.5 liters. Contraindicated in case of kidney disease, with caution in case of carbohydrate metabolism disorders (diabetes mellitus).
• Lactasol is administered intravenously in a volume of 1 to 3 liters (according to the severity of the electrical injury). Contraindications – acid-base imbalance.
• Hemodez - it is permissible to administer up to 2 times a day intravenously, in a single volume of 200 - 500 ml. Contraindicated for kidney disease, respiratory and heart failure, intracranial hypertension.

Then, based on the patient’s symptoms and complaints, the following are prescribed:

• painkillers:

1. Analgin;
2. Nurofen;
3. Ketoprofen;
4. Diclofenac;
5. Ketanov.

• antispasmodics (administered intra-arterially when limbs are affected, have analgesic properties):

1. Heparin;
2. Buscopan;
3. Papaverine;
4. Nitroglycerine.

• antihistamines to eliminate swelling and prevent the development of allergic reactions:

1. Zodak;
2. Suprastin;
3. Cetirizine;
4. Zyrtec;
5. Tavegil.

• anticonvulsants:

1. Amisepine;
2. Acediprol;
3. Phenobarbital;
4. Seduxen.

• antiarrhythmic drugs:

1. Lidocaine;

   
   Lidocaine 10 percent in ampoules 100 mg/ml

2. Rhythmonorm;
3. Novocainamide;
4. Metoprolol.

Procedures

Treatment of electrical injuries is carried out comprehensively, with the use of additional procedures that accelerate the healing process, and involves:

• anti-burn therapy - treatment of burns using antiseptics and drugs that accelerate tissue regeneration;
• physiotherapy:
• electrophoresis (including on the eye area with electroophthalmia);
• barotherapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• speleotherapy;
• physiotherapy.

Operation

Severe burns (III and IV degrees) as a result of electrical trauma require immediate surgical intervention in one of the following ways:

• necrectomy – removal of necrotic (dead) soft tissue, can be either an independent procedure or a preliminary procedure before tissue transplantation;

• decompressive necrotomy is a type of necrectomy that involves immediate dissection of necrosis in the first hours after injury (even in the presence of burn shock);
• fasciotomy - dissection of fascia (lamellar tissue) in case of damage to the great vessels;
• ligation of blood vessels in the presence of bleeding;
• dissection and drainage of damaged muscle groups;
• complete or incomplete amputation of limbs.

It is advisable to perform necrectomy and fasciotomy only during the first 24 hours after injury.

Consequences of electric shock

Nervous system

• loss of consciousness of varying degrees and duration;
• memory loss (retrograde amnesia);
• convulsions;
• weakness and weakness;
• headache and dizziness;
• violation of thermoregulation;
• flickering in the eyes, blurred vision.

Damage to the nervous system means damage to nerve fibers and nerve endings. And then sensitivity and motor activity in the limbs change, trophism is disrupted, and pathological reflexes arise. In addition, the current can pass through the brain, which leads to convulsions and loss of consciousness; in some cases, damage to the respiratory center leads to respiratory arrest.

Electric shock under high voltage leads to severe disruption of the central nervous system. First, the breathing center and regulation of cardiac activity are inhibited, then electrical lethargy sets in. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that from the outside it looks as if the person had died. Breathing and heartbeat become so imperceptible that it seems as if they are absent, but in fact the activity of vital systems is reduced to a minimum. However, this is not a reason to panic; if resuscitation measures are started in time, the body will successfully recover and all systems will work as before.

The cardiovascular system

In most cases, disruptions in cardiac activity of a functional nature are observed:

• sinus arrhythmia;
• tachycardia;
• bradycardia;
• extrasystole;
• heart blockades.

Electrical shock to the heart muscle disrupts its contractile function, and this leads to fibrillation. This concept means that the myocardial fibers begin to contract in a disjointed rhythm, worse, the heart stops pumping blood, in severity this is equivalent to cardiac arrest. Damage to blood vessels leads to bleeding.

Respiratory system

Due to damage to the respiratory center in the brain, respiratory activity stops or is inhibited. The passage of current through the lung tissue leads to contusion and rupture of the lungs.

Sensory disorders

• hearing loss;
• noise in ears;
• touch disorder;
• rupture of the eardrum;
• middle ear injury;
• keratitis;
• Chorioditis;
• cataract.

Transverse muscles and smooth

• Spasm and contraction of muscle fibers can lead to cramps.
• Strong contraction of skeletal muscles can result in fractures of the spine and tubular bones.
• Spasm of the muscular layer of the vascular wall leads to increased pressure or myocardial infarction (in the case of spasm of the cardiac arteries).

Long-term complications

• The cardiovascular system is accompanied by: disturbances in cardiac conduction, heart rhythm, obliterating endarteritis, arteriosclerosis;
• Nervous system: neuritis, encephalopathy, trophic ulcers, autonomic changes;
• Pathologies such as cataracts, hearing and vision impairment occur in the sense organs;
• Musculoskeletal system: contractures (limited range of motion, inability to bend a limb), deformities.

Damage factors (electric shock, what to do)

Kind and power and voltage

• Voltages exceeding 1000 volts cause severe damage, including death. And this is even if you do not touch the source of electric current, it is enough just to be in its vicinity (the so-called “voltaic arc”).
• An alternating current shock is more dangerous than a direct current shock.
• Contact with low-frequency current damages internal organs
• High-frequency electric shock to the skin surface without causing death.

The path of current through the body is a current loop

This is the distance and trajectory that electric current travels through the human body at the moment of impact. Two main options:

• Full loop. Includes 2 arms and 2 legs, passes through the arm and arm as the current flows through the heart.
• Hand-head when current passes through the brain. No less dangerous than the previous one.

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Tissue resistance and current density

Current density is the amount of current that passes through a unit area. For example, when an electric current passes through a hand, the current density increases in the joint area. This is because energy is concentrated when current passes through a smaller area.

Current duration

How long the current affects the human body affects the damage to the body; prolonged contact can lead to death.

A high voltage current leads to a sharp contraction of muscles, this force is capable of throwing a person away from the current source at a considerable distance.

Low voltage current acts on the muscles, provoking their spasm, and this can lead to involuntary gripping of the conductor by hands for a long time. During which the skin resistance decreases, therefore it is necessary to interrupt the contact of the victim with the conductor as soon as possible.

External factors

There are external factors that only complicate the severity of the lesion. Rooms with high humidity: baths, bathrooms, any water spaces - all this leads to more severe injuries from electric shock. The strongest current conduction occurs in salt water; its electrical conductivity is better than in fresh water.

Body condition

Against the background of health problems, chronic diseases, alcohol or drug intoxication, the likelihood of a more severe electric shock develops. The threat also extends to old age and childhood.

Whatever the blow, you need to consult a therapist. This should be done even when there is no visible damage and there seems to be no reason to worry. An electric shock can cause a spasm of blood vessels or disrupt the functioning of internal organs - and if things go badly, you will find out about this somewhere in the intensive care unit.

Factors determining the severity of damage:

• Source of impact. Household - electrical equipment, sockets, etc. Natural (outdoors) - lightning, high-voltage line.
• Voltage.
• Duration of contact with the source of impact.
• Type of current. Variable and constant. Moreover, the first is considered more dangerous than the second, since it can cause muscle cramps, which leads to subsequent respiratory arrest and cardiac dysfunction.
• Health features. This implies the presence of certain chronic diseases of systems and organs.

You need to understand that if you are shaken by touching a poorly grounded washing machine, it will cause much less harm to your health with minor consequences, compared to a lightning strike. In any case, only a qualified doctor can evaluate them. He will tell you what to do in your case, how much or how little damage the current caused you, checking your medical record and diagnoses. Examination and tests will show a picture of what happened, invisible to the eye, and how dangerous the internal damage was.

Injuries

Conditions under which injury may occur:

• Touching exposed parts of electrical appliances that are energized.
• Accidents that are caused by inconsistency in the work of personnel.
• Touching the housing of electrical devices that are out of order and on the surface of which there is voltage or leakage currents are retained.
• Accidentally approaching the affected area of ​​faulty high-voltage power lines.
• Getting into the area of ​​an electric arc.
• Touching electrical devices with a tool (made of conductive materials).
• Exposure to overvoltage.
• Touching pipes and metal structures that are energized (being hit by a broken wire, etc.).
• Malfunction of fencing devices of repair facilities. Lack of necessary measures to limit access to hazardous elements.
• Power supply without warning. Incorrect switching on of outgoing circuit breakers at substations.
• Lack of protective grounding.
• The occurrence of short circuits during repair work.
• Malfunction of electrical appliances. Violation of the integrity of insulating surfaces.
• Breakdowns in insulation caused by overheating and melting of the protective layer of cables.
• Using broken electrical appliances.
• Malfunctions on power lines.
• Short circuits.
• Operational errors: accidental contact with dangerous devices, falls, etc.
• Electric arc. Occurs when the maximum permissible safe distance between a person and an electrical installation is exceeded by more than 1 kV.
• The occurrence of step voltage in the presence of a bare live conductor.
• Lightning strikes in installations not equipped with lightning rods. An electric current of large magnitude arises. The incident is often accompanied by a fire.
• High humidity in a room with a faulty electrical installation: the presence of condensation on the walls and floors leads to damage to living organisms.
• Leaving electrical installations unattended when the circuit is closed. It is a common cause of injury.
• Faulty or missing grounding circuit. Memory malfunction.
• Breakdown of the SZ. Occurs due to inattention to the work process of staff.
• External factors: the occurrence of voltage on live parts due to repeated accidents - at supply substations, lightning strikes during work, etc.

How to protect yourself from electric shock

1. Under no circumstances should a wire lying on the ground be lifted or removed from the road. Also, do not touch wires on the street sticking out of the ground, avoid transformer wires hanging from poles;
2. Avoid contact with wires that hang too low to the ground;
3. Do not come close to trees, equipment, or a house where a broken wire has fallen.
4. Count 8 meters (the size of a bus) from the point where the wire touches the ground and go out of the “kill zone” in a goose step. Because when walking in small steps, both legs are practically at the same point with the same electrical potential, so no voltage will arise between them. Do not lose your balance so that when you stagger, you do not accidentally touch conductive objects.
5. What to do if you find an injured person next to a broken wire? First, turn off the power transmission of the high-voltage line, and only then call for help, and do not approach the victim. Only if you are 100% sure that the low voltage wire (up to 1 kV) can you try to help it using special means of protection against electricity.
6. Do not plug in devices with wet hands.

How to protect yourself when using electrical appliances:

• Follow safety rules when handling electrical devices.
• If it is necessary to work with electrical appliances, use protective equipment.

Means of protection against electric shock:

• Insulating pads and supports;
• Special dielectric gloves, caps, galoshes and mats;

• Portable grounding;
• Tools with insulated handles;
• Special protective clothing;

• Protective partitions, screens, chambers protecting against current;
• Warning signs and posters.