First aid for electric shock: what can and can not do
Educational Program Health / / December 19, 2019
Electric shock - one of the most insidious injuries. It can be both visible effects (burns, pain, cardiac and respiratory rhythms), and quite obvious. But they are not less threatening. And we have to act quickly.
How to provide first aid for electric shock
Unfortunately, if an electric shock you, make you little: hope that you will throw aside or strike will be short. If you - the observer, you have every chance to save someone's life. Proceed on itemsElectric Shock Treatment.
1. Try as quickly as possible to separate the victim from the power source
If the appliance plug is not damaged (otherwise it is better not to touch it, to avoid becoming a victim himself), unplug it from the outlet. Try turning off the current through an external circuit breaker or fuse box.
If you cut down the electricity is not possible, stand on a wooden chair or the board, a pile of dry newspapers, books, rubber mat, glass - something that does not conduct electricity. In the other hand, take a dielectric - the wooden or plastic squeegee handle, a wooden chair, collapsed into a tube rubber mat - and try to push the victim from the voltage source.
In no case do not rush save man with bare hands: the risk of getting a deadly dose of stress.
Whatever you do, leave if you feel tingling in the legs and lower body. Thus it is better not to move in steps and jumping on one leg until the symptom disappears. Otherwise you suffer and not be able to help any other or themselves.
2. Call an ambulance if necessary
Dial emergency number or the local emergency services if the victimElectrical shock: First aid:
- have visible burns;
- trouble breathing;
- observed muscle cramps or pain;
- there is confusion or loss of consciousness;
- there are problems with heart rhythm (arrhythmia) or heart is not beating.
3. Place and / or warm the person
If conscious, place it comfortably - best on your back on a hard surface. Provide rest before the ambulance or (if the shock seems insignificant) until such time until it becomes the victim better.
Human unconscious is better not to move, because it is not known how serious the damage.
Cover the victim with a blanket or a rug, throw with warm clothes. Current can cause poor circulation, so it is important that people do not supercooled.
4. Close burns
If the victim has burns, They should be covered with sterile gauze (if at hand) or a clean smooth cloth. Of course, only if the person's condition allows you to remove or cut the clothing in the burnt areas.
Do not use as a bandage blankets and towels: of fibrous tissue may stick to the burns and exacerbate the damage to the skin later.
5. Help to cope with the shock
If there are signs of shock - vomiting, weakness, severe pallor, - slightly raise the legs, feet tucked under the cushion of the things.
6. Give artificial respiration
If the victim is breathing poorly (rarely and spasmodically) or not breathing at all, start immediately artificial respiration mouth to mouth.
EMERCOM of Russia experts recommendFirst aid for electric shock to kneel beside the victim and throw back his head back, his head tucked under his one arm.
Second hand slightly press down on his forehead to his chin was on the line with the neck. Put on the mouth piece of cheesecloth or a handkerchief, a finger and thumb pinch the person's nose and start with the power to breathe air into his mouth.
First 5-10 breaths should be fast (20-30 seconds), and then the pace can be reduced to a breath 5-6 seconds. Keep an eye on the chest of the victim: if it goes up, you are acting correctly.
7. Do chest compressions
If a person has no pulse and no heart, in addition to a respirator is required chest compressions.
Attention! Do it only if there is no heart rate accurately. In the presence of heart chest compressions forbidden heart!
What if it seems that the shock was not dangerous
In any case, you need to consult a therapist. Even in the absence of visible lesions and external ailments shock can cause spasm of blood vessels or disrupt the internal organs - and you will know about it when the bad developments from somewhere resuscitation.
The severity of damage depends on many factors, including the following:
- strike source. This can be lightning, Power line, household appliances, electric socket, electric weapon.
- Voltage.
- The duration of the contact with a pin source.
- current type. The variable is considered more dangerous than a constant, because it can cause muscle spasms and, as a result, cessation of breathing or heart disorder.
- Especially health, the presence of certain chronic diseases, such as cardio-vascular system.
It is clear that, if jolted by touching a grounded bad the washing machine, the health consequences will be significantly less than when struck by lightning. But in any case, to evaluate them can only qualified physician.
He asked in detail about what happened, check with the medical records and diagnosis and possibly send to additional tests to rule out invisible to the eye, but no less dangerous internal injuries.
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