Although there are about 8 million lightning strikes per day on earth, few people are struck and/or killed. ©2020 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.Keeping small children away from electrical outlets and components can reduce the risk of an electric shock.How Can Electric Shock and Lightning Strike be Prevented?Emotional trauma is best described as a psychological response to a deeply distressing or life-threatening experience.Electric shock, contact injury to the hand. Head/neck/back injuries along with multiple fractures can occur from strong muscle contractions from being electrocuted. This can often result in a burn. If the victim received a serious electric shock, do not put the victim in the recovery position. Head/neck/back injuries along with multiple fractures can occur from strong muscle contractions from being electrocuted. Electric shock injury to the hand. Although you may be scared about your pet’s electrocution, it is very important for you to remain as calm as possible and do the best you can to stabilize him and keep him calm before you make it to your veterinarian’s office. Neurologic injury is common in individuals struck by lightning.
An electric shock occurs when a person comes into contact with an electrical energy source. Electric shock can be unlike many other injuries, especially because its effects on the body are not always immediately apparent to EMS, first responders and other care providers. If they are not breathing, begin CPR.
If they are, isolate the power by turning it off at the source or by turning off the mains power at the switchboard.
Photograph by Timothy G. Price, MD. Indirect injuries caused by lightning strikes can occur with Flash injuries occur when electrical energy only travels to the skin; indirect injuries caused by man – made electrical devices and lightning strikes may be caused by flame due to clothing catching on fire.A person who has suffered an electric shock may have very little external evidence of injury or may have obvious severe burns. Continually evaluate the ABCs. If this is the case, conduct your primary assessment by checking ABCs. The extent of the injury … Continue reading "First-Aid for Electric Shock"
Photograph by Timothy G. Price, MD. Serious electrical shock injuries usually have an entrance and exit site on the body because the individual becomes part of the electrical circuit.If a person is going to help someone who has sustained a high voltage shock, he or she needs to be very careful not to become a second victim of a similar electrical shock. ©2018 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved. Cardiac rhythm disturbances can quickly cause the victim to go into cardiac arrest. A doctor should evaluate the electric cord burns to the mouth of a child.Treatment of electric shock depends on the severity of the burns or the nature of other injuries found.Steps to prevent electrical injury depend primarily on the age of people involved.Recovery from electric shock depends on the nature and severity of the injuries. Photograph courtesy of William Smock, MD. eMedicineHealth does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Whether it is due to a faulty wire or an appliance becoming wet, it’s important that you know how to deal with these types of shocks since they are much different than regular burns.
Wall outlets were responsible for about 15% of injuries.Lightning injuries occur infrequently, but cause an average of 47 deaths per year in the U.S. About 1,000 people in the United States die each year as a result of electrocution (death caused by electric shock), which is far more than deaths caused by lightning.
These variables include the type of current (AC [alternating current] or DC [direct current]), the amount of current (determined by the voltage of the source and the resistance of the tissues involved), and the pathway the electricity takes through the body.Low voltage electricity (less than 500 volts) does not normally cause significant injury to humans.
Begin a secondary assessment, looking specifically for 2 or more electrical burns - one entrance wound and one exit wound. F.A.Q.