Electrical injuries – do not be a victim

Connecting to electricity illegally, cable theft, undertaking electrical work without fully understanding what to do, being negligent and not ensuring that exposed live wires, for example, are attended to.

These are some of the ways in which people are putting their lives in danger.

ER24 is urging people to be careful, as well as to refrain from activities such as connecting to electricity illegally or stealing cables.

ER24 paramedics have attended to incidents where people, sadly, died due to electrical injuries sustained.

Where victims survived, many were left in a serious or critical condition. Be it at home, work or outdoors, everyone should exercise safety when dealing with electricity.

Below are some safety tips:

· Always be alert when using electrical appliances.

· Never undertake any electrical work unless you understand what to do. If you do know what to do, you should still be careful as mistakes can happen. You should never work on anything that still has current. The current should be shut off prior to work beginning. Remember to turn off the switch or main power supply when working on something like a light bulb, for example.

· Treat all electrical cables and outlets as live, even during load shedding or general power failures.

· Never work in wet areas or with anything electrical and wet. Mowing the lawn or using power tools in wet weather, for example, is dangerous.

· Do not overload sockets as they may become hot and burn away insulation. You may be electrocuted if you touch one. It can also start a fire.

· Ensure extension cords are in good working order. Inspect extension cords for damages before using them. Ensure cables and cords are kept out of reach of children. Secure all plug points or electrical outlets with covers.

· Beware of exposed live or damaged wires, at home or anywhere else. Ensure you have these fixed if at home, or report those found in public areas, for example, to the relevant authorities.

· If someone decides to help a person who has been electrocuted, they should ensure their own safety first. They will be of no use to the victim if they become a victim as well.

Willem Stassen, senior flight paramedic at ER24, added that people should also be attentive at their places of work. A number of incidents to which he has attended occurred at the workplace.

“This is often related to someone inadvertently switching on the mains, while another works on the electricity. In addition, I have also had incidents where individuals tried to connect to electricity illegally or to steal cables. These are all unsafe practices and must be avoided,” he said.

In case of a medical emergency, contact ER24 on 084 124.