Accidents due to electric shock are caused by electric current entering through the body. The effects of electric shock range from mere tingling to instant death. Knowing what to do in the event of an electric shock can save lives.
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Part 1 of 4: Securing Around
Step 1. Pay close attention to the environment around the accident site
Immediately trying to save the victim may be your first reaction, but if the threat of electric shock persists, you may only injure yourself. So, stop for a moment and then pay attention and see if there is a threat of danger around.
- Check the source of electric shock. Pay attention to whether the victim is still in contact with the power source. Remember that electricity can flow from the victim's body to yours.
- Never use water, even if there is a fire there because water can conduct electricity.
- Never enter a place with electrical appliances on if the floor there is wet.
- Use a special fire extinguisher for electrically ignited fires. Fire extinguishers like these are labeled C, BC, or ABC extinguishers.
Step 2. Call emergency services
You should call emergency services as soon as possible. The sooner you call, the sooner help will arrive. Describe the situation as calmly and clearly as possible on the phone.
- Explain that the emergency that occurs involves electric shock so that the dispatched rescue team can prepare everything.
- Try not to panic. A calm mind will help you convey the information you need.
- Speak clearly. Emergency services need accurate and clear information. Talking too fast may lead them to misunderstand and as a result valuable time will be wasted.
- Provide your address and telephone number clearly.
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Most countries have emergency telephone numbers that are easy to remember. Here are some of them:
- Indonesia – 112
- USA – 911
- UK – 999
- Australia – 000
Step 3. Turn off the power source
If it can be done safely, turn off the power source. Do not attempt to rescue a victim who is near a high-voltage power line. You should turn off the power directly from the power box or fuse of the circuit breaker. Follow these steps to turn off the power from the fuse box:
- Open the fuse box. Look for the rectangular knob at the top of the box.
- Hold and flip this knob to the reverse position, much like a light switch.
- Try turning on a light or other electrical device to make sure that the power is out.
Step 4. Keep the victim away from sources of electric shock
Do not touch the victim's body even when using a non-conducting shield if the electricity has not been extinguished. Once you've made sure that no more electricity is flowing, use a rubber or wooden rod, or other non-conducting material to keep the victim away from the power source.
- Examples of materials that do not conduct electricity include glass, porcelain, plastic, and paper. Cardboard is another good example of a non-conducting and easy-to-find material that you can use.
- Conductors are materials that can conduct electric current, including copper, aluminum, gold, and silver.
- If the victim is struck by lightning, the body is safe to touch.
Part 2 of 4: Helping Victims
Step 1. Place the victim in the recovery position
Placing the victim of electric shock in this position will ensure that the airway remains open. Follow these steps to properly place the victim in the recovery position:
- Place the arm that is close to your body perpendicular to his body.
- Place the other hand next to the head. The back of his hand should be in contact with his cheek.
- Bend the knee farthest perpendicularly.
- Tilt the victim's body. His right arm should be supporting his head.
- Lift the victim's chin and check the airway.
- Accompany the victim and observe his breathing. Once in the recovery position, do not move the victim's body as this can make the injury worse.
Step 2. Cover the victim and wait for help
The victim's body will immediately cool down. You should try to cover the victim with a warmer to maintain his or her body temperature. Wait for the victim until emergency help arrives.
- Do not cover the victim's body if there are large wounds or burns that have not been treated.
- Place the blanket gently on the victim's body.
- When emergency help arrives, share the information you know. Explain the source of the hazard quickly. Tell the victim's body injuries you saw and when the accident occurred. Do not try to disturb the staff when they start work.
Step 3. Talk to the victim
Talk to the victim to find out more about his condition. You will be more able to help if you know more about the condition. Pay close attention to the response and be prepared to pass this information on to rescue workers when they arrive.
- Introduce yourself and ask the victim what happened. Ask if he is having trouble breathing and is in pain.
- Ask the location of the source of the pain. This may identify cuts or burns.
- If the victim is unconscious, check the airway and listen for the flow of the breath.
Step 4. Examine the victim's body
Examine the victim's body from the head to the neck, chest, arms, abdomen, and legs. Watch for burns or other obvious injuries. Report these injuries to rescue workers when they arrive.
Do not change position or move the victim's body that is sore or injured, and do not touch the burn. Moving the victim's body can make the injury worse
Step 5. Control the victim's bleeding
If the victim is bleeding, try to stop or slow the flow of blood. Use a clean cloth to apply pressure to the wound. Keep pressing on the victim's wound until the bleeding stops.
- Do not remove a cloth that has blood on it. However, put another layer on top.
- Elevate the part of the body that is bleeding above the heart. Do not move any part of the victim's body if you suspect a broken bone.
- Once the bleeding has stopped, tie tightly the cloth covering the wound.
- Wait for emergency help to arrive and tell the victim's injuries and what you have done to treat them.
Step 6. Call back emergency services if the victim's condition worsens
If you notice a change in the victim's condition or if you notice a new wound developing, call emergency services again for further guidance. Informing the victim's current condition to the emergency services will help them to respond better.
- If the victim's condition worsens, the service operator may prioritize you.
- If the victim stops breathing, the emergency services operator will guide you in administering CPR. Don't panic, just follow all the guides provided by the operator.
Part 3 of 4: Delivering CPR Safely without Exercise
Step 1. Remember to check ABC
In an emergency, you should check the victim's airway, breathing, and circulatory system before administering CPR. This action is also known as ABC. You can check all three by doing the following steps:
- Check the victim's airway. Watch for any blockages or signs of damage there.
- Observe if the victim is breathing spontaneously. See if the victim can breathe normally. To find out, put your ear close to the victim's nose and mouth, then listen for the sound of his breathing. Never give CPR if the victim is breathing or coughing.
- Start CPR if the victim is not breathing. If the patient is not breathing, you should give CPR immediately.
Step 2. Pay attention to the victim's level of consciousness
Although a health professional will examine the victim for these signs, knowing the victim's response rate and conveying this to the rescue team may be helpful. Levels of consciousness are often grouped into 4 categories:
- A, alerts. This means that the victim is aware, can speak, and is aware of his surroundings.
- V, voice responsive. This means the victim can respond to questions, but he or she may not be very aware of what is going on.
- P, pain responsive. This means that the victim is responding to pain.
- U, unresponsive. This means the victim is unconscious and does not respond to questions or react to pain. If the victim is unconscious, you can give CPR. Do not give CPR to a victim who is still breathing and conscious.
Step 3. Prepare the position
You and the victim must be in the right position for CPR. Follow these steps to make sure you're both in the right position for CPR:
- Lay the victim on his back and lean his head back.
- Kneel near the victim's shoulder.
- Place the heel of the hand in the center of the victim's chest, between the nipples.
- Place the other hand on top of the first hand. Straighten your elbows and position your shoulders straight with your palms.
Step 4. Start applying pressure
Once you've positioned yourself well, you can now start pressing. The pressure can keep the victim alive and supply oxygenated blood to the brain.
- Use your upper body weight and not just your arms to press the victim's chest down.
- Press at least 5 cm.
- Press firmly, at a rate of about 100 pressures per minute. Continue until the victim can breathe again or emergency help arrives.
Part 4 of 4: Treating Burns
Step 1. Seek medical attention for victims of electric shock
A person who has a minor burn from an electric shock should seek medical attention. Do not try to treat the victim yourself. Call emergency services or take the victim to the nearest hospital.
Step 2. Examine the victim for burns
Burns have special characteristics that can help you identify them. Watch for injuries to the victim's body that have one or more of the following characteristics:
- Reddened skin.
- Peeling skin.
- Blistered skin.
- Swelling.
- Whitening or blackening of the skin.
Step 3. Clean the burn
Electricity usually enters the body from one place and exits from another. Examine the victim's body as much as possible. After learning about the injury, cool the burn with cold water for 10 minutes.
- Make sure the water you use is clean to avoid bacterial infections.
- Do not use ice, ice or hot water, or creams and other oily liquids on burns. Burnt skin is sensitive to temperature extremes, while creams can interfere with its healing.
Step 4. Remove the victim's clothing and jewelry
Removing jewelry and clothing from around the burn is an important step to prevent the injury from getting worse. Some of the victim's clothing or jewelry may still be hot from the electric shock and continue to injure the victim.
- Do not try to remove melted clothing or tissue sheets stuck to the wound.
- Do not use ordinary blankets to protect the body of the burn victim because it can cause infection.
Step 5. Cover the burn
Covering the burn will help prevent the condition from getting worse and reduce the risk of infection. Try using the following ingredients to cover the burn:
- sterile gauze
- Wipe clean
- Avoid using towels and blankets.
- Do not use adhesive tape.
Step 6. Wait for emergency help to arrive
Once the victim is stable, you should be with him and try to calm him down. Don't forget to pass on any new information to emergency services if you are dealing with a burn victim.
Always carry your phone with you in case someone needs to be called immediately. Monitor the victim's condition as much as possible and do not leave him alone
Tips
- Try to stay calm.
- Provide as much information as you can to the emergency services.
- Accompany the victim and monitor his condition.
- Inform the victim's condition changes to the emergency services.
- Never work with electricity alone. Coworkers can save your life in the event of an accident.
Warning
- Always make sure the electricity has been turned off before providing assistance to the victim.
- Do not apply ice, butter, ointments, medications, cotton bandages, or adhesive tapes to the burn.
