Burns from electric shock can occur when a person comes into contact with an electrical source, such as a grounded electrical device, and electricity flows through the person's body. The degree of burn also varies, from 1st to 3rd degree burns, depending on how long the victim was in contact with the injuring electric current, the strength and type of flow, and the direction of the electric current through the body. If a 1st or 3rd degree burn occurs, the wound may be deep and can cause stiffness. Burns due to electric shock also have the potential to cause complications due to its effects on the body's internal organs. With a little preparation, you can react appropriately if you or someone close to you gets a burn.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Treating Severe Burns from Electric Shock
Step 1. Do not touch the victim if he or she is still connected to a power source
First, remove the tools used, or turn off all the main electricity sources in the house, to turn off electricity to the victim.
If it is not possible to turn it off immediately, stand on a dry surface, such as a rubber mat or a stack of paper or books. Then, use a dry wooden object, such as a broom handle, to keep the victim away from the power source. Do not use anything wet or metallic
Step 2. Unless necessary, do not move or move the victim
If the victim is no longer connected to a power source, do not move or move the victim unless absolutely necessary.
Step 3. Check if the victim is responding
The victim may be unconscious or unresponsive to touch or when spoken to. If the victim is not breathing, immediately perform artificial respiration and CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation).
Step 4. Get medical help right away
Burns from electric shock can affect the electrical activity of the heart. Call the police or medical help immediately, especially if the victim is unresponsive or the burns are from high-voltage wires or lightning strikes.
- If the victim's heart stops, immediately perform CPR.
- Even if the victim is conscious, you still need to get medical help right away if he or she has severe burns, a fast heartbeat, an irregular heartbeat or heart attack, has epilepsy or chills, has trouble walking or maintaining balance, has trouble seeing or hearing, red or reddish urine, confusion, muscle pain or contractions, or difficulty breathing.
- Also be aware that the victim may have kidney damage, nerve damage, or bone damage.
Step 5. While waiting for the medical assistance team to arrive, immediately treat the burn victim
- Cover the burn with a sterile, dry bandage. For severe burns, never remove the part of the clothing that becomes stuck to the skin. However, you can try cutting the cloth near the burn area, especially if the clothing is around the burn area and can be problematic if the area swells.
- Do not use blankets or towels to cover the burn, as loose fibers can stick to the wound surface.
- Do not try to cool the wound with water or ice.
- Do not try to apply any oil to the wound.
Step 6. Watch for symptoms of shock in the victim
His skin may feel cold and damp, his face pale, and his pulse fast. Watch for these symptoms and tell the medical help team when they come.
Step 7. Keep victim warm
Do not expose the victim to cold air because it can exacerbate the symptoms of shock. If using a blanket, keep it away from the injured area while waiting for the medical assistance team.
Step 8. Follow all doctor's orders
Depending on the severity of the shock and burn symptoms, the ER doctor and a team of nurses may perform a variety of tests and treatments.
- They may order blood and urine tests to look for signs of injury to the muscles, heart, and other organs.
- An ECG (or EKG) device can record the electrical activity in your heart to make sure that the shock is not causing an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).
- For severe burns, the medical team may perform scintigraphy which can help look for dead tissue that may need to be removed.
Step 9. Follow the given treatment
Your doctor may prescribe medication to relieve pain because burns can be painful while healing. You may receive a prescription for an antibiotic cream or oil that must be used as instructed when changing the bandage.
Step 10. Watch for signs of infection
The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection in the burn. However, you also need to watch for signs of infection and consult a doctor immediately if you think the wound has become infected. If so, the doctor will prescribe a more aggressive antibiotic. The following are some potential symptoms:
- Discoloration of the burn area or surrounding skin
- Changes in color to purplish, especially if there is swelling
- Change in burn thickness (suddenly the burn goes very deep into the skin)
- Green pus comes out
- Fever
Step 11. Change the bandage frequently
Whenever your bandage gets wet or dirty, change it. Clean the burn (with gloved or clean hands) with water and mild soap, add antibiotic cream (if instructed by the doctor), and re-wrap with a new, sterile non-stick bandage.
Step 12. For severe burns, consult a doctor for surgery options and possibilities
For severe 3rd degree burns, your doctor may recommend several surgical options, depending on the size and location of the wound. Some of these operations are for example:
- Removal of dead or severely damaged tissue to avoid infection and inflammation and to speed up healing time
- Skin grafts, which replace damaged skin with healthy skin from another place to speed up healing and prevent infection
- Escharotomy (scar removal), a cut made in the dead tissue until it reaches the fat layer underneath. Escharotomy can improve blood circulation and relieve pain from pressure caused by swelling
- A fasciotomy, or pressure release caused by muscles that swell from a burn. A fasciotomy can help reduce damage to nerve tissue, muscle tissue, or organs.
Step 13. If necessary, consult on physiological therapy options
Muscle and joint damage caused by severe burns can reduce muscle function. You can regain strength in the affected area by consulting a physical therapist. Your movement ability will increase, besides that the pain felt with certain movements will also decrease.
Method 2 of 2: Treating Minor Burns from Electric Shock
Step 1. Remove clothing or jewelry in the wound area
Even minor burns can cause uncomfortable swelling. Immediately remove clothing or jewelry near the injured area to prevent further pain.
If the clothes are stuck to the wound, then you are not dealing with a minor burn. Seek medical help immediately. Do not try to remove clothing that is stuck to the burn. Cut around the glued part to release any loose parts
Step 2. Wash the wound area with cold water until the pain stops
Cold water will lower the temperature of the skin and may prevent the burn from getting worse. Hold the wound area under cold running water, or soak for 10 minutes. Don't panic if the cold water doesn't stop the pain right away, as the process can take half an hour.
- Never use ice or ice water because too low a temperature can further damage muscle tissue.
- You can put your arms, hands, feet, and thighs in a bucket of cold water. However, for burns located on the face or body, use a cold compress.
Step 3. Wash your hands
You need to wash the burn to reduce the risk of infection. However, you also need to wash your hands thoroughly before touching a burn, as any open wound can become infected easily.
Also make sure the gloves, bandage, cloth, or any material you use and touch the wound are clean
Step 4. Do not break the inflated skin
Burn bubbles are not like friction bubbles, which are less painful when burst. Do not burst skin bubbles associated with burns as this can greatly increase the potential for infection.
Step 5. Clean the burn area
Use soap and cold water to clean the burn area. Use soap gently so as not to break the bubbles or irritate the skin.
The burnt skin may come off a little when you wash the wound
Step 6. Dry the wound area by touching the cloth on the wound
Use a clean cloth to dry the wound. Do not rub the wound with a cloth. If so, use a sterile bandage.
For very mild 1st degree burns, you may only need to do this
Step 7. Use an antibiotic cream
You can use a cream like Bacitracin or Polysporin to clean the burn. Do not use spray or butter on the burn, as this can trap heat in the wound.
Step 8. Apply the bandage
Loosely apply a clean bandage to the burned skin. Change the bandage every time it gets wet or dirty to avoid infection. Avoid tying the wound area too tightly as this can further injure the skin.
- If the sunburn or blisters don't burst or open, you may not need a bandage. However, you still need to apply a bandage if the wound area gets dirty easily or can be irritated by clothing.
- Do not tie the bandage in a circular fashion to the hand, arm, or thigh. This can cause swelling.
Step 9. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can relieve symptoms of mild pain. Drink according to the instructions for use.
Step 10. Consider calling a doctor
Even if your burn appears minor, you may still develop symptoms that require your doctor's attention. Call your doctor immediately if you:
- Feeling weak
- Have stiffness in the joints or feel muscle pain
- Experiencing confusion or memory loss
- Worried about the condition or wound healing
Step 11. Watch for signs of infection
For minor burns (degree 1), the risk of infection is very small. However, you should always watch for sores and signs of infection, especially if there are blisters or broken skin. Call your doctor right away for strong antibiotics if you think the burn is infected. The following are some of the symptoms that indicate your burn is infected:
- Discoloration of the burned area or surrounding skin
- Purplish discoloration, especially with swelling
- Change in burn thickness (suddenly the burn thickens deep into the skin)
- Green pus comes out
- Fever
Step 12. Talk to your doctor about large bubbles
If your burn has large bubbles, it should be removed by a doctor immediately. The bulging skin is rarely intact and should be removed by a doctor who can perform all procedures carefully and sterile.
Larger bubbles are larger than your pinky fingernail
Step 13. Change the bandage frequently
Whenever your bandage gets wet or dirty, change it. Clean the burn (with clean hands or gloves) using water and soft gloves, add antibiotic cream, and apply a new, sterile non-stick bandage.
Tips
- Do not attempt to repair electronic equipment unless you have checked two or three times that no electricity is flowing to the equipment.
- Make all electrical switches in your home out of reach of children.
- Replace damaged or chipped cables.
- When calling the medical assistance team, explain that you are dealing with a burn victim from electric shock. They will provide additional information to you over the phone.
- When dealing with electrical equipment, make sure there is a fire extinguisher nearby.
- To prevent burns from electric shock, wear appropriate clothing and take appropriate safety precautions whenever you interact with electricity.
-
Recognize the symptoms of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burns, to find out what next steps you can take, depending on the degree of the burn.
- 1st degree burns are the least serious burns, affecting the outermost layer of the skin. These burns produce skin that is red and often painful. However, these burns are considered minor and can be treated at home.
- Second-degree burns are more serious burns, affecting the first and second layers of the skin. These burns produce skin that is very red and bubbly, very painful and sensitive. Although minor 2nd degree burns can be treated at home, large 2nd degree burns require immediate medical attention.
- 3rd degree burns are the most serious and dangerous burns, affecting all layers of the skin. These burns can cause the skin to be red, brown, or white, but often black. Injured skin will look like skin on clothes and often can't feel any sensations. This type of burn requires immediate medical attention.
Warning
- Never touch someone who is being electrocuted because you can be electrocuted too.
- Do not approach electrical equipment that is exposed to water or moisture.
- If a fire occurs, first turn off the power, then use a fire extinguisher.
