Electrical Burns & Shock

Electrical Burns and Shock

Electrical burns can be quite tricky to deal with. It’s important to remember that no matter how minor the problem may appear to be on the outside, very often the real damage lies beneath the skin. If you suffer a severe electrical shock, it can cause internal damage and lead to further complications like cardiac arrest. The severity of the jolt can also cause you to fall or be thrown, potentially causing fractures or other injuries.

If someone suffers from electrical burns or shock during a disaster situation, you should follow this information:

• Don’t Touch: If the person is still in contact with the power supply, the current could be passed through you. Do not touch the person until the power supply is turned off.
• Shut Off the Power: Turn off the power supply as soon as you possibly can. If you can’t turn it off, move yourself and the injured person away using something dry and non-conducting like wood, plastic, or cardboard.
• Check Vitals: Check for signs that the person still has circulation and a pulse (coughing, breathing, movement). If there are no vital signs, begin CPR immediately.
• Elevate the Legs: If you can, lay the person with their legs slightly elevated and the head a little lower than the trunk of their body. This can help get blood to the vital organs.
• Cover Burns: Cover any burns using a sterile gauze bandage (from your disaster supplies first aid kit). If you don’t have gauze, use a clean towel. Don’t use a blanket or a towel which has loose fibers which could stick to the burns.