First Aid for Electrical Injuries

Electrical injury - Overview

Alternative Names

Electrical shock

Definition of Electrical injury:

An electrical injury can occur to the skin or internal organs when a person is directly exposed to an electrical current.
Considerations:

The human body is a good conductor of electricity. Direct contact with electrical current can be fatal. While some electrical burns look minor, there still may be serious internal damage, especially to the heart, muscles, or brain.

About 1,000 people die of elecrtric shock each year in the United States.

The affect of an electric shock on an individual depends on the intensity of the voltage to which the person was exposed, the route the current took through the body, the persons's state of health, and the speed and adequacy of treatment.

Electric current can cause injury in three main ways:

* Cardiac arrest due to the electrical effect on the heart
* Muscle, nerve, and tissue destruction from a current passing through the body
* Thermal burns from contact with the electrical source

Causes:

* Accidental contact with exposed parts of electrical appliances or wiring
* Flashing of electric arcs from high-voltage power lines
* Lightning
* Machinery or occupational-related exposures
* Young children biting or chewing on electrical cords, or poking metal objects into an electrical outlet

Electrical injury - Symptom

Symptoms:

Symptoms may include:

• Altered level of consciousness
• Bone fractures
• Cardiac arrest
• Headache
• Impaired swallowing, vision, or hearing
• Irregular heartbeat
• Muscle contraction
• Muscular pain
• Numbness or tingling in the face, trunk, or arms and legs
• Respiratory distress or failure (complete stopping of breathing)
• Seizures
• Skin burns

Electrical injury - Treatment

1. If safely possible, shut off the electrical current. Unplug the cord, remove the fuse from the fuse box, or turn off the circuit breakers. Simply turning off an appliance may NOT stop the flow of electricity.

2. Call for medical help.

3. If the current can't be turned off, use a non-conducting object, such as a broom, chair, rug, or rubber doormat to push the victim away from the source of the current. Do NOT use a wet or metal object. If possible, stand on something dry and non-conducting, such as a mat or folded newspapers. Do NOT attempt to rescue a victim near active high-voltage lines.

4. Once the victim is free from the source of electricity, check the victim's airway, breathing, and pulse. If either has stopped or seems dangerously slow or shallow, start first aid (CPR).

5. If the victim has a burn, remove any clothing that comes off easily, and rinse the burned area in cool running water until the pain subsides. Give first aid for burns.

6. If the victim is faint, pale, or shows other signs of shock, lay him or her down, with the head slightly lower than the trunk of the body and the legs elevated, and cover him or her with a warm blanket or a coat.

7. Stay with the victim until medical help arrives.

8. Electrical injury is frequently associated with explosions or falls that can cause additional traumatic injuries, including both obvious external injuries and concealed internal injuries. Avoid moving the victim's head or neck if a spinal injury is suspected. Administer appropriate first aid as needed for other wounds or fractures.

Do Not:

• DO NOT apply ice, butter, ointments, medications, fluffy cotton dressings, or adhesive bandages to a burn
• DO NOT get within 20 feet of someone who is being electrocuted by high-voltage electrical current until the power is turned off
• DO NOT move a victim of electrical injury unless there is immediate danger such as fire or impending explosion
• DO NOT remove dead skin or break blisters if the victim has burns
• DO NOT touch the skin of someone who is being electrocuted
• DO NOT touch the victim with your bare hands while the person is still in contact with the source of electricity

Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if:

Call for emergency medical help if the victim is unconscious, confused, has difficulty breathing, has skin or mouth burns or other extensive burns, or was in contact with a high-voltage source.

Prevention:

• Avoid electrical hazards at home and at work. Always follow manufacturer's safety instructions when using electrical appliances
• Avoid using electrical appliances while showering or wet
• Keep children away from electrical devices, especially those that are plugged in
• Keep electrical cords out of children's reach
• Never touch electrical appliances while touching faucets or cold water pipes
• Teach children about the dangers of electricity
• Use child safety plugs in all outlets

Emergency first aid

There has been an accident and someone is injured. You're first on the scene, but what should you do? Here's TheSite.org's guide to emergency first aid.

Check your surroundings

At the scene of any accident, your first thought should always be safety, both for yourself and the victim. There is already one casualty, don't make yourself another. Firstly look around and survey the scene - is it safe? Look for any potential hazards; these could be anything that puts either of you at risk, from falling objects and running engines to oncoming traffic. Only when you're sure it's safe should you take action and commence first aid.

First steps

Turn your attention to the accident victim. Before anything else it's vital you find out if they are conscious:

• Speaking loudly and clearly, ask the casualty if they can hear you, and to explain what has happened;
• If they don't answer, ask them to open their eyes. This helps identify those people who are alert but may be unable to talk;
• If there is no response, very gently shake the person's shoulders, and look carefully for any signs of life;
• If the patient is unconscious, shout for help or ask a bystander to call 999.

While you wait for help to arrive, it's up to you to keep the person alive. It's now time to check the golden 'ABC' of first aid - 'Airway', 'Breathing' and 'Circulation'.

'A' is for Airway

A blocked airway can quickly lead to suffocation, and possibly death. After any accident there could be a foreign object in their mouth, or the victim may swallow their tongue. Check inside their mouth, and remove anything that shouldn't be there. Place one hand on their forehead, and gently tilt the head back, whilst lifting the chin up with the tips of two fingers on your other hand - this reduces the risk of them swallowing their tongue.

'B' is for Breathing

Even with an open airway, the victim may have stopped breathing. Check for breathing by placing your head over the victim's face so your cheek hovers above their mouth and your eyes look down at their chest - is it moving up and down taking breaths? Feel for any breaths against your cheeks, and listen for any breath sounds.

What you do next depends on whether they're breathing or not.

If the victim is not breathing, you need to give them two rescue breaths:

• Pinch the person's nose, take a deep breath and seal your lips around their mouth. Blow into their mouth, and look to make sure their chest rises and falls;
• Now check their pulse. If there is no pulse, you should commence CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). If they have a pulse, give regular rescue breaths, one every five seconds, checking the pulse every minute.

If the victim is breathing, as long as you feel there are no other serious injuries (particularly to the head or neck), you should place them in the recovery position:

• Roll the victim onto their side.
• Lift their chin forward to maintain an open airway, then place their hand underneath their cheek.

In this position they should not be able to roll forwards or backwards. Keep an eye on their breathing and pulse until help arrives.

'C' is for Circulation

CPR should only be performed by a qualified first aider. The aim is to breathe for the victim, whilst pumping blood around their body to keep them alive. CPR and rescue breathing techniques are performed differently in adults, infants and children, and guidelines change frequently. In an adult:

• Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest. Position your other hand on top, and lock the fingers of both hands.
• Keeping your arms straight, press down about 5cm. This is one chest compression.
• You should perform 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 a minute, trying to pump blood around the body.
• Following this, give two rescue breaths. This cycle of 30 compressions and two breaths should be repeated until help arrives.

First Aid for Burns

Burns

Signs & Symptoms

First-degree burns affect only the outer skin layer. The skin area appears dry, red, and mildly swollen. First-degree burns are painful and sensitive to touch. They should feel better in 1 to 2 days. They heal in about a week.


Second-degree burns affect the skin's outer and lower layers. The skin is painful, swollen, red, and has blisters. The skin also has a weepy, watery surface.


Third-degree burns affect the outer and deeper skin layers and organs below the skin. The skin appears black-and-white and charred. It swells. Tissue under the skin is often exposed. Third-degree burns may have less pain than first-degree or second-degree burns. Why? No pain is felt where nerve endings are destroyed. Pain may be felt around the margin of the burn, though.



Causes

Burns can result from dry heat (fire), moist heat (steam, hot liquids), electricity, chemicals, or from radiation, including sunlight. The longer the skin is exposed to the burn source, the worse the burn can be.



Treatment

Third-degree burns always need emergency care. A second-degree burn needs immediate care if it is on the face, hands, feet, genitals, a joint, or if the burn affects a large area. Self-Care/First Aid treats most first-degree burns and second-degree burns.



Self-Care / First Aid

For Severe Burns Before Emergency Care
# Remove the person from the source of heat. For electrical burns, see Electric Shock. Call 9-1-1! Keep the person's airway open. Treat for Shock.
# Remove hot or burned clothes that come off easily, not if they are stuck to the skin.
# Cover the burns loosely with clean cloths. Use direct pressure to control bleeding. Don't rub.
# Stay with the person until medical care arrives.
# If lye or a dry chemical gets on the skin, brush off the powder. Then flush with clean water for at least 20 minutes or until EMS arrives. Remove glasses, but not contacts, before treating the eyes.

For First-Degree and Second-Degree Burns (that are less than 3� in diameter)

Use cold water or cloths soaked in cold water on burned areas for 15 minutes or until the pain subsides. Do not use ice at all. Doing this could result in frostbite.

Cover the area loosely with a dry cloth, such as sterile gauze. Hold it in place by taping only the edges of the gauze. Change the dressing the next day and every 2 days after that.

Don't use ointments. Aloe vera can be applied over closed skin 3 to 4 times a day. For a more severe burn less than 3'' x 2'', use Second Skin Moisture Pads, etc.

Don't break blisters. If they break on their own, apply an antibacterial spray or ointment or treatment prescribed by your doctor. Keep the area loosely covered with a sterile dressing.

Prop the burned area higher than the rest of the body, if you can.

First Aid for Fainting

Fainting & Unconsciousness

Signs & Symptoms

Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness. It can last from seconds to 30 minutes. Just before fainting, a person may feel a sense of dread, feel dizzy, see spots, and have nausea.


If a person falls and can't remember the fall itself, he or she has fainted.


An unconscious person is hard to rouse and can't be made aware of his or her surroundings. The person is unable to move on his or her own.



Causes

Fainting is due to a sudden drop in blood flow or glucose supply to the brain. This causes a temporary drop in blood pressure and pulse rate. Medical reasons for this include:
# Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This can occur in diabetics, in early pregnancy, in persons on severe diets, etc.
# Anemia. Eating disorders.
# Conditions which cause rapid loss of blood.
# Abnormal heart rhythm. Heart attack. Stroke.
# Head injury. Heat stroke. Heat exhaustion.

Other things that can lead to feeling faint or fainting include:
# A sudden change in body position like standing up too fast. This is called postural hypotension.
# A side effect of some medicines. Drinking too much alcohol.
# Anxiety or sudden emotional stress or fright.
# Being in hot, humid weather or in a stuffy room. Standing a long time in one place.
# Extreme pain.

Get out of bed slowly.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause.



Questions to Ask

Do any of these problems occur?
# The person is not breathing. {Note: Give Rescue Breaths and CPR, as needed.}
# The person is unconscious or is having a hard time breathing.
# Any heart attack warning sign.
# Signs of dehydration
# Signs of shock.
# The person who fainted had sudden, severe back pain.

Did fainting occur with any of these conditions?
# A recent head injury.
# Severe bleeding. {Note: Give first aid for this.}
# Severe pain in the abdomen or pelvis.
# Blood in the stools or urine. Black, tarlike, or maroon colored stools.
# Being over 40 years old and this is the first time for fainting.
# A known heart problem. A fast or irregular heartbeat.
# Diabetes and the person does not respond to a glucagon injection or rubbing a sugar source, such as cake frosting paste inside the mouth.
# Being a young person and the fainting took place during a sports activity.
# Slow, noisy, or unusual breathing.
# Seizure symptoms, such as twitching or jerking in a person not known to have epilepsy.

Self-Care / First Aid

For Unconsciousness
# Check for a response. (See Step 2 in First Aid Precautions.) Call 9-1-1! Give Rescue Breaths and CPR, or treat for Shock, as needed.
# Check for a medical alert tag or information. Call the emergency number if there is one. Follow instructions given.
# Don't give the person anything to eat or drink, not even water.


For Fainting
# Catch the person before he or she falls.
# Lie the person down with the head below heart level. Raise the legs 8 to 12 inches to promote blood flow to the brain. If the person can't lie down, have him or her sit down, bend forward, and put the head between the knees.
# Loosen any tight clothing.
# Don't slap or shake a person. Don't give anything to eat or drink.
# Check for a medical alert tag. Respond as needed.


To Reduce the Risk of Fainting
# Follow your doctor's advice to treat any medical problem which may lead to fainting. Take medicines as prescribed. Let the doctor know about any side effects.
# Get up slowly from bed or from a chair.
# Avoid turning your head suddenly.
# Wear loose-fitting clothing around the neck.
# Don't exercise too much when it is hot and humid. Drink a lot of fluids when you exercise.
# Avoid stuffy rooms and hot, humid places. When you can't do this, use a fan.
# If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.


For a Low Blood Sugar Reaction
# Have a sugar source, such as: One half cup of fruit juice or regular (not diet) soda; 6 to 7 regular (not sugar free) hard candies; 3 glucose tablets; or 6 to 8 ounces of milk.
# If you don't feel better after 15 minutes, take the same amount of sugar source again. If you don't feel better after the second dose, call your doctor.
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About The Author
This article has been taken from Healthier at Home® – Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions & Self-Care, a book published by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. To order this book and/or to learn more about the work of the Institute,......more
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All About First Aid

History

1. The first recorded instances of first aid were performed in the 11th century by religious knights. Trained in medical care, they formed the order of St. John to treat battlefield injuries.
In the mid-19th century, the Red Cross was formed to provide care for sick and wounded soldiers. Soldiers were formally trained to care for one another until medics arrived. In 1878, an army surgeon proposed the training of civilians to provide premedical treatment. The word "first aid" was created as a combination of "first treatment" and "National aid." Civilian ambulance crews were trained to provide first aid for the police, railways and mines.
First aid has continued to evolve and many developments have been made in the field. New techniques, equipment and training contribute to modern, simple and effective first aid.

Function

2. The primary function of first aid is to provide some level of medical care as quickly as possible until professional medical help arrives. The purpose of all medical care, including first aid, is to save or preserve life. First aid kits are essential to provide on-the-spot aid for injuries and illnesses. These kits generally include items such as bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, scissors, a thermometer, medications such as aspirin and acetaminophen, hydrogen peroxide, antiseptic ointments, saline solution and cotton balls and swabs.

Types

3. There are several types of first aid; many require specific training. Marine or aquatic first aid is typically performed by lifeguards or rescue divers. It covers the specific actions that must be taken after water-based rescue. Battlefield first aid deals with the treatment of wounded soldiers and civilians in an active battlefield or after a battle. Wilderness first aid is employed when medics or emergency responders are delayed due to weather, location, terrain or distance. In this case, first aid may be administered for as little as a few hours or as long as a few days.
There are also many types of first aid techniques. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is given when breathing has stopped, typically in cases of near drowning. The Heimlich maneuver is used to remove foreign bodies that are blocking the airway when a person is choking. Adrenaline or insulin may be administered when a person has gone into anaphylactic shock or diabetic shock. Dressing of wounds, bone setting, and applying heat or cold in the case of hypothermia or frostbite are also common first aid techniques.

Considerations

4. There are certain skills necessary to the practice of first aid. Although most people are able to provide first aid in some form, it is essential to learn some of these skills for use in emergency situations. Knowledge of the Heimlich maneuver or CPR can be the difference between life and death. Without these skills, only basic first aid can be provided.

Benefits

5. First aid is the first response to injury and it can literally save lives. It can also prevent further trauma to the injured person and promote her recovery. Without first aid, a simple injury could become severe or even cause a person to perish, especially when no medical help is available.

First Aid Techniques

First aid is a vital part of any emergency response. Proper first aid techniques can save the life of a person in danger, whether it's from a choking hazard or a health-related problem. Heart attacks and accidents happen all the time, and it's important to be ready to assist someone in need.