Electrical injury or electric shock is an extremely dangerous situation that can occur both at home and at work. What are the common causes of this phenomenon? What determines the strength and severity of the defeat? How can you get an electric shock and burn without touching conductive elements? What is emergency care for electrical injury, the algorithm of actions, treatment - you can learn all this from the article.
What are we dealing with?
Electrical trauma - a set of lesions that occur when in contact with sources of technical or natural electricity. It is worth noting that the sensation of current strength begins with a power of 1 mA. Also, burns and electric shocks are possible without touching current-carrying units. This may occur due to leakage or breakdown with the appearanceelectric arc.
Burns are an integral component of electrical injury. They are formed on the path of current entry and exit. They are:
- mixed (from thermal and electrical action);
- combined;
- just electrical burns.
Almost always, electrical injury is a lesion of the skin surfaces, mucous organs and bone tissue. This can lead to disruption of many body systems and even paralyze them forever. For example: first of all, the current affects the work of the heart, nervous system, peripheral. Therefore, in case of electrical injury, emergency care is required!
Classification of electrical injuries
Electrical injuries are divided into the following types:
- production;
- household;
- natural.
And by the nature of the impact, they can be instantaneous or chronic.
There are 4 levels of electric shock. They are determined by the negative effect on the body:
- The first degree is the appearance of convulsions, improper muscle contraction. In this case, the victim remains conscious.
- In the second category, loss of consciousness and severe spasms in the form of convulsions are possible.
- The third level is a disruption of the heart and body systems, a clouding of the mind.
- The fourth level is clinical death.
All degrees of electric shock are dangerous, so emergency care and a clinic should be provided in a matter of minutes in case of electrical injury.
Causes and factorsdefeats
Main causes of named injuries:
- The main problem is the appearance of tension where it should not be. Basically, these are objects equipped with metal elements, or it is damage to the insulation of wires, cables.
- Touching current-carrying parts.
- The appearance of an electric arc between elements that conduct electricity.
- Incorrect actions by people, staff.
Factors that affect the severity of the lesion:
- flow power;
- origin of electricity (constant or variable);
- current frequency;
- duration of current effect;
- the method of moving electricity is dangerous if the current passes through important organs (heart, head, liver, etc.);
- individual characteristics of each organism;
- The risk of injury depends on the state of the environment (for example: a humid environment is a good conductor).
Main sources of electric shock:
- Bare cables exposed to electricity.
- Violation of the ground circuit.
- Electric shock is possible even when a person is located near power lines, especially in wet weather.
- Atmospheric electricity strike in the form of lightning.
Electric Injury Help
If a person suffers an electrical injury, the emergency response algorithm is as follows:
- First, you should stop the effect of the current. Important! If it's a wire, you need itmove with a piece of rubber or dry wood.
- Next, you need to drag the victim to a safe distance with the help of dried improvised items. Important to know: the victim is a conductor, so you should protect yourself by wearing rubber overshoes or slippers.
- The person should be laid on a flat surface and the clothes unbuttoned, thereby providing oxygen to the body.
- In case of loss of consciousness, ammonia can be applied: wetting a cotton swab and moving it under the nose.
Then you need to call an ambulance. In the meantime, you should give the victim strong tea to drink, you can give sedative drops.
When providing emergency care for electrical injury, it can be used:
- analgesics;
- drugs to increase blood pressure;
- substances that prevent seizures;
- drugs to stop arrhythmias;
- if the patient has no pulse, then, by all means, a heart massage or artificial respiration is needed.
Electrical injury in children
The curiosity of kids, the negligence and inattention of parents, the mistakes of electrical services with the connection of electricity - all this leads to damage to children by electric current. Most often, a child receives a blow at home, that is, household electricity with a power of 110 to 220 V. Such damage often leads to disruption of the heart, brain, and kidneys. Emergency care for electrical injuries in children should be instant!
Fun fact: Children are more likely to be exposed toelectricity, as their body contains more fluid in percentage terms than adults. This is a physiological feature that few people know about.
Consequences:
- loss of consciousness;
- burns that occur when exposed to high temperatures;
- even with minimal contact with electricity, malfunctions of the heart muscle are noticeable;
- the human nervous system starts to work in the wrong direction;
- exacerbation of chronic ailments;
- possible internal bleeding.
Be careful with current
To prevent the possibility of electric shock, you must:
- Control the wiring process (whether it's a residential or office building, the cable must be grounded).
- Make sure sockets have grounding contacts.
- Do not bend the cords of extension cords and devices, but twist them correctly, without violating the design of the wire.
- If the premises are damp, then high protection sockets should be installed there.
- It is better not to touch a faulty electrical appliance.
- It is best to install special protection on the inputs.
Electrical injury is an electric shock that causes tissue burns and damage to their structures. Such lesions affect the functioning of the body as a whole, but above all, the functioning of the heart muscle.
Remember
In case of electric shock, a person must bedelivered to the hospital. It must be remembered that even with a minor injury, the condition of the victim can worsen at any moment. A mild electric shock has a generally positive prognosis. But severe damage leaves marks (in the form of burns) and a lot of negative imprints on he alth. A fatal outcome is also possible. Emergency treatment for severe electrical injury should be provided as soon as possible.
Stress is not to be trifled with. You need to think over everything right away (the location and grounding of electrical appliances, sockets) in order to protect yourself and your family!
