Electric shock

Our bodies conduct electricity. If any part of your body meets live electricity, an electric current flows through the tissues and causes an electric shock. People sometimes call this electrocution.

Depending on the length and severity of the shock, injuries can include burns to the skin, burns to internal tissues, and electrical interference with or damage to the heart, which could cause it to stop or to beat erratically. It is important to seek medical attention even for a mild electric shock, to assess whether the heart has been affected.

What causes electric shock?#

Some causes of electric shock include:

• faulty appliances
• damaged or frayed cords or extension leads
• electrical appliances in contact with water
• incorrect, damaged or deteriorated household wiring
• downed powerlines
• lightning strike

Symptoms of electric shock#

If it is safe to do so, disconnect the power supply before trying to help someone with an electric shock. Typical symptoms of an electric shock include:

• burns, particularly where the electricity entered and left the body (entrance and exit burns)
• unconsciousness
• difficulty breathing, or no breathing at all
• a weak, erratic pulse, or no pulse at all
• cardiac arrest

Although someone who has had an electric shock may appear unharmed, they should still receive medical attention. Some injuries and complications may not be obvious initially, so a medical examination is important after any electric shock.

First aid for electric shock#

Follow the DRSABCD method for first aid:

• Check for danger – make sure you, the injured person and others around you are safe.
• Try to switch off or disconnect the power supply. Do not touch the person until you are sure the power is turned off. Be careful in wet environments, such as bathrooms, as water conducts electricity.
• If you are in a building or power lines have come down, it may be safer to disconnect the whole electricity supply. You may need to wait for authorized electricity personnel to do this, especially if there are live wires.
• If you cannot switch off the power supply, try to remove the person without touching them directly. Use something that is dry and does not conduct electricity, such as a wooden broom handle.
• Check the injured person’s response, airway and breathing. It may be necessary to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Send for help – call your local emergency number (for example 911 in the US and Canada, 112 across the EU and many countries, 999 in the UK, or 000 in Australia) for an ambulance. The operator will organize assistance for you while you continue talking on the phone, and may give you first aid instructions. If you can, put your phone on loudspeaker.

If the person is breathing steadily and is responsive, attend to their injuries. Talk calmly and reassure them.

Treating burns#

• Cool the burn area with cool running water for 20 minutes.
• Cover burns with dressings that will not stick to the skin. If you do not have dressings available, loosely applied cling wrap can be used. Do not apply cling wrap tightly or wrap it around a body part, as this will cause complications if the injured area swells.
• Never put ointments or oils onto burns.

Try not to move anyone who has fallen from a height, as they may have spinal injuries. Only move them if there is a chance of further danger from the environment, such as falling objects.

Fallen powerlines#

Powerlines can come down for many reasons, including extreme weather conditions such as floods and storms, motor vehicle accidents, fallen trees and workplace accidents.

Standing near fallen powerlines can be dangerous. Always stay more than 8 to 10 meters away. Do not go near anything that may be touching them, such as vehicles, water, metal fences or other metal objects.

If you arrive at the scene of an accident where powerlines have come down, do not approach until it has been declared safe by the proper authorities. Stand well back and encourage any bystanders to keep a distance of more than 8 to 10 meters. Even if the lines or wires are broken or not moving, they may still be live. All fallen powerlines should be treated as live.

Powerlines and vehicle accidents#

Sometimes powerlines are downed in vehicle accidents and may drape over your vehicle. If this happens, your tyres act as insulation, so it is important to stay inside the vehicle to be safe from electric shock.

If someone needs to get out of the vehicle because of a hazard such as fire, instruct them to keep their feet close together and to jump away, not walk. This can reduce the chance of an electric shock if wires are on the ground. Only advise this action if the person is unable to remain in the vehicle due to an immediate safety concern.

Safety tips around the home to reduce the risk of electric shock#

You can reduce the risk of electric shock in your home by taking a few precautions:

• Don’t be tempted to do your own electrical work. Even though jobs such as changing power points or switches may look easy, always hire a licensed electrician.
• Do not use extension leads or appliances if the cords are damaged or frayed. Throw them away if they are damaged in any way.
• Do not remove a plug from a power point by pulling on the cord – pull the plug instead.
• Keep electrical appliances away from wet areas. Electricity and water don’t mix.
• Wear rubber or plastic soled shoes when using electrical appliances, especially in wet areas, on concrete or outdoors.
• Have safety switches installed by an electrician. Buy portable power boards with built-in safety switches.
• Insert safety plugs into unused power points to stop children from inserting objects into them.
• If you have children, turn off and unplug electric appliances and keep them out of reach (this includes electrical cords).
• Get household wiring checked by a registered electrician, especially if your house is more than 30 years old.
• If you use a metal ladder, make sure it has rubber feet. When metal contacts the ground it can increase the risk of electric shock.

When buying electrical appliances#

• When buying new appliances, check that they meet the applicable safety standards.
• Be extra cautious when shopping online.
• If you plan to buy second-hand appliances, check that they meet safety standards and are not damaged. It is a good idea to have them checked by someone qualified in electrical repairs, such as a licensed electrician.

Safety switches#

A safety switch (or residual current device) is a safety device used alongside circuit breakers and fuses in your home to minimize the risk of injury and fire. It monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit, making sure the flow is even.

Safety switches quickly trip out the power when an electrical problem is detected. They can protect you from harmful electric shocks when someone makes contact with a live electrical circuit (such as from faulty leads and appliances) by providing a path to earth. Safety switches operate within 0.03 seconds. A safety switch is different from a circuit breaker, which is designed to protect household wiring from power surges.

Key points#

• Seek medical attention even for a mild electric shock to assess whether the heart has been affected.
• Causes of electric shock include faulty appliances, damaged cords, water contact, faulty wiring, downed powerlines and lightning strike.
• A medical examination is important after any electric shock.
• When treating burns, do not apply cling wrap tightly or wrap it around a body part, as this will cause complications if the injured area swells.
• If powerlines drape over your vehicle, it is important to stay inside the vehicle to be safe from electric shock.

Where to get help#