How to Handle an Electric Shock Incident

Carefully assess the accident scene. You might feel the urge to rush in and help, but if the risk of electrical shock still exists, you may end up injuring yourself. Take a moment to evaluate the situation and note any immediate dangers.

• Check the power source. See if the victim is still in contact with the electrical current. Remember, electricity can flow from the victim to you.
• Never use water, even in case of fire, as water conducts electricity.
• Do not enter an area with electrical devices if the floor is wet.
• Use a fire extinguisher designed for electrical fires. The extinguisher should be labeled as C, BC, or ABC.

Call emergency services. Quickly calling for help is crucial. The sooner you call, the quicker assistance will arrive. When making the call, try to explain the situation as calmly and clearly as possible.

• Explain the electrical shock situation and the urgency of the incident so the emergency team can prepare appropriately.
• Avoid panicking. Staying as calm as possible will help you convey accurate information.
• Speak clearly. Emergency services need precise and clear information. Speaking too fast may lead to misunderstandings, wasting valuable time unnecessarily.
• Provide your exact address and contact number.
• Most countries have easy-to-remember emergency numbers. Here are a few examples:
  • Vietnam - 115
  • USA, Canada - 911
  • UK - 999
  • Australia - 000

Disconnect the power source. If it's safe to do so, disconnect the power. Do not attempt to rescue someone near high-voltage lines. To cut off the power, the electrical box, circuit breaker, or fuse box should be your first option. Follow these steps to turn off the power using the circuit breaker:

• Open the circuit breaker box. Look for the square box with the control handle, located at the top of the fuse box.
• Grasp the handle and pull it to the opposite side, much like switching off a light.
• Test by turning on a light or another electrical device to ensure the power has been cut off.

Keep the victim away from the power source. Do not touch them, even with non-conductive tools, unless the power has been turned off. Once you are certain the electricity is cut off, use a wooden stick, rubber, or any other non-conductive object to move the victim away from the source.

• Examples of non-conductive materials include glass, ceramics, plastic, and paper. Cardboard is also a common insulating material that can be used.
• Conductive materials, which allow electricity to flow through them, include copper, aluminum, gold, and silver.
• If the victim has been struck by lightning, touching them is safe.

Place the victim in the recovery position. Positioning a person who has suffered an electric shock in the recovery position ensures their airway remains clear. Follow these steps to place the victim correctly:

• Bend the arm closest to you at an appropriate angle in relation to the body.
• Place the other hand under one side of the head, with the back of the hand against the cheek.
• Bend the far knee at a suitable angle.
• Roll the victim onto their side. The upper arm will support the head.
• Lift the victim’s chin and check the airway.
• Stay with the victim and monitor their breathing. Once in the recovery position, do not move the victim as it could worsen any injuries.

Đắp chăn cho nạn nhân và chờ đợi. Nạn nhân sẽ nhanh chóng bị mất nhiệt. Do đó, bạn nên dùng chăn lưới để giữ ấm cho người bị nạn. Cùng chờ cấp cứu đến.

• Đừng che chắn khi cơ thể nạn nhân có vết thương lớn hoặc vết bỏng chưa được xử lý.
• Nhẹ nhàng khi đắp chăn lên người nạn nhân.
• Khi cấp cứu đến, cho họ thông tin bạn có. Giải thích thật nhanh nguồn gây nguy hiểm. Lưu ý mọi vết thương bạn biết và thời gian tai nạn. Đừng cố can thiệp khi người bị nạn đã được tiếp nhận.

Nói chuyện với nạn nhân. Cố nói chuyện với nạn nhân để nắm rõ hơn tình trạng của họ. Tìm hiểu được càng nhiều, bạn sẽ càng trở nên hữu ích hơn. Hãy chú ý mọi phản ứng của người bị nạn và sẵn sàng thông tin lại khi cấp cứu đến.

• Tự phán đoán và đồng thời, hỏi nạn nhân điều gì đã xảy ra. Hỏi liệu họ có khó thở hay bị đau ở bất kỳ vị trí nào hay không.
• Hỏi vị trí bắt nguồn cơn đau. Nhờ đó, bạn có thể sẽ xác định được mọi vết thương hay vết bỏng.
• Nếu nạn nhân bất tỉnh, kiểm tra đường thở và lắng nghe hơi thở của họ.

Kiểm tra cơ thể. Kiểm tra cơ thể nạn nhân, bắt đầu từ đầu và di chuyển xuống cổ, ngực, tay, bụng và chân. Để ý mọi vết bỏng hoặc vết thương dễ nhận thấy khác. Báo với đội phản ứng khẩn cấp khi họ tới.

• Đừng điều chỉnh hay di chuyển bất kỳ vùng bị đau hay chấn thương nào. Đừng chạm vào vết bỏng. Di chuyển nạn nhân có thể trầm trọng thêm tổn thương.

Cầm máu. Nếu nạn nhân bị chảy máu, hãy cố cầm hoặc làm chậm sự mất máu. Dùng khăn sạch ép trực tiếp lên vết thương. Tiếp tục ép cho đến khi máu dừng chảy.

• Khi khăn bị thấm máu, đừng thay mà hãy đắp thêm một lớp khăn khác lên phía trên.
• Nâng tay hoặc chân bị chảy máu lên cao hơn vị trí của tim. Đừng di chuyển nếu nghi ngờ bị gãy.
• Một khi đã cầm được máu, bọc khăn bằng băng để cố định chúng.
• Chờ cấp cứu đến, cung cấp thông tin về vết thương và những xử lý của bạn.

Gọi lại cho dịch vụ cấp cứu nếu nạn nhân có chuyển biến xấu. Khi nhận thấy tình trạng của nạn nhân có bất kỳ sự thay đổi gì hoặc phát hiện bất kỳ vết thương mới nào, hãy gọi lại cho cấp cứu và xin chỉ dẫn. Cập nhật thông tin sẽ giúp đội cấp cứu hành động tốt hơn.

• Khi tình hình xấu đi, tổng đài có thể sẽ ưu tiên tình huống của bạn.
• Nếu nạn nhân ngừng thở, tổng đài có thể sẽ cho bạn biết cách thực hiện hồi sức tim phổi (CPR). Đừng hoảng loạn, hãy thực hiện đúng mọi chỉ dẫn được đưa ra.

Remember to check ABC (airway - breathing, breathing - breathing, circulatory - circulation). In an emergency, it is critical to assess the airway, breathing, and circulation of the victim before starting CPR. This process is commonly known as ABC. You can check by following these steps:

• Check the victim's airway. Look for signs of injury or any obstructions.
• Check the breathing rhythm. Observe closely to see if the victim is breathing normally by placing your ear near their nose and mouth, listening for any breath. Do not begin CPR if the victim is breathing or coughing.
• Start CPR if the victim is not breathing. Once the victim stops breathing, you need to start CPR immediately.

Assess neurological status. Although a healthcare professional will re-evaluate this, identifying the level of responsiveness in the victim and sharing this information with the emergency team is very useful. The neurological condition is divided into the following four levels:

• A - Alert. The victim is awake, can communicate, and is aware of their surroundings.
• V - Voice responsive. The victim can respond verbally to questions but may not be fully alert or aware of the situation.
• P - Pain responsive. The victim shows some reaction to pain stimuli.
• U - Unresponsive. The victim is unconscious and does not respond to questions or pain stimuli. If the victim is comatose, CPR should be initiated. Do not use CPR techniques on someone who is awake and breathing.

Get into position. Both you and the victim need to be in proper positions when performing CPR. Follow these steps to ensure you're both in the right posture for chest compressions:

• Lay the victim on their back and tilt their head backward.
• Kneel near the victim's shoulders.
• Place the palm of one hand in the center of the chest, between the nipples.
• Place your other hand on top. Keep your elbows straight, with your shoulders directly above your hands.

Begin chest compressions. Once you're in the correct position, you can start chest compressions. Chest compressions can save the victim's life by ensuring oxygenated blood continues to flow to the brain.

• Use not just your arms but also the weight of your upper body when pressing down on the chest.
• Press down at least 5 cm.
• Compress firmly at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. Continue until the victim starts breathing again or emergency responders arrive.

Seek medical attention for a victim of electrical shock. Even mild burns from an electrical shock require medical care. Do not attempt to treat the victim on your own. Call emergency services or take them to the nearest hospital.

Identify the burn area. Burns have distinct characteristics that can help identify the affected area. Look for any of the following signs:

• Reddened skin.
• Skin peeling away.
• Blisters.
• Swelling.
• White or charred skin.

Clean the burn area. Electricity typically enters and exits the body at two different points. Be thorough in your examination of the victim. Once identified, cool the burn with cold water for ten minutes.

• Only use clean water to prevent any risk of infection.
• Avoid using ice, hot water, or any creams or ointments. Burned skin is very sensitive to extreme temperatures, whether too hot or too cold, and creams can hinder healing.

Remove clothing and jewelry. It is crucial to remove clothing and jewelry near the burn to prevent further damage. Some clothing or jewelry might still be hot from the electrical shock and could cause additional harm to the victim.

• Do not attempt to remove melted paper or fabric that is stuck to the burn.
• Avoid using a regular blanket to cover the victim as it could lead to infection.

Cover the burn area. Covering the burn will help protect the affected area from further injury and reduce the risk of infection. Try to use one of the following materials:

• Sterile gauze
• Clean fabric
• Avoid using towels or blankets
• Do not use adhesive bandages

Wait for emergency help. Once the victim is stable, remain with them and offer reassurance. Don’t forget to provide the emergency team with details about how the burn has been treated.

• Keep your phone nearby in case you need to make an urgent call. Try to monitor the victim’s condition and don’t leave them alone.

• Make an effort to stay calm.
• Provide as much detailed information as possible to the emergency team.
• Stay close to the victim and monitor their condition.
• Inform emergency services about any changes in the victim's condition.
• Never work with electricity alone. In case of an accident, having a colleague nearby may save your life.

• Ensure that the electrical power is disconnected before assisting the victim.
• Do not apply ice, butter, ointments, medication, cotton with lint, or adhesive bandages to the burn.