First Aid – What to do for electrical burns – The Training Hub
Electrical burns can be caused either by low or high voltage currents. High voltage currents can jump distances of up to 18 meters (known as “arcing“). In such instances do not approach the casualty; stay at least 25 meters away until the power source has been turned off and contact emergency services.
With all electrical burns, there may be visible wounds on the skin where the electric current has entered and shocked the body. Internal damage to the body may also have occurred and can range from an irregular heartbeat to cardiac arrest.
Electrical burns can be caused either by low or high voltage currents. High voltage currents can jump distances of up to 18 meters (known as “arcing“). In such instances do not approach the casualty; stay at least 25 meters away until the power source has been turned off and contact emergency services.
With all electrical burns, there may be visible wounds on the skin where the electric current has entered and shocked the body. Internal damage to the body may also have occurred and can range from an irregular heartbeat to cardiac arrest.
How to treat someone with electrical burns
If you discover someone that you suspect has had an electric shock, follow the 5 tips below to ensure not only the safety of yourself and those around you but also give the victim the best chance of surviving a situation that can easily cause death.
- Disconnect/switch off the power supply to the area. Approach the scene only if you are sure it is safe to do so.
- Treat any burns you find appropriately.
- Assess whether the patient is breathing, checking their airway to ensure they haven’t swallowed their tongue. Be prepared to perform CPR if necessary.
- If the patient is awake, reassure them. Calming the patient is a major factor whilst waiting for medical assistance.
- Request an ambulance. This could be the difference between life and death.
At TutorCare we offer a wide range of courses dealing with Emergency First Aid in the workplace. For more information on course specifics please take a look here – First Aid Courses.
Looking for First Aid training? Check out our popular courses below…
Looking for First Aid training? Check out our popular courses below…
Speak to a training consultant now.
Related Blog Posts
This article looks at what a business should include in a basic first aid kit, along with a list of injuries each item addresses. Stocking a basic first aid kit In a typical first aid kit, your stock list can be split into three categories: dressings, necessities, and extras. Dressings are used to cover up …
Continue reading “Basic first aid kit – What should you include? – The Training Hub”
It is important to understand the elements of a good process safety management programme to protect employees from harm when they are in their work environment. Implementing such a programme is impossible without cooperation from every level of the company, managers and non-managers alike. In this article we look at the core elements of a …
Continue reading “Safety Management Programme – Essential Elements – The Training Hub”
Strokes can be life-threatening, and today they are unfortunately common (there are around 32,000 stroke related deaths in the UK every year). As such, it is important to understand what strokes are, and how to properly identify a stroke as they happen. Identify a stroke – what is a stroke? Strokes occur when blood …
Continue reading “Identify a Stroke – How to identify strokes for carers and family members”