ER24 shares tips on avoiding and dealing with electrocutions

All the information you need on electrocution prevention, symptoms and treatment.

ER24 has released a statement that pays attention to when and how electric shocks can be hazardous.

They are warning the public to be extremely careful when it comes to dealing with electrical appliances.

They said prolonged contact with an electrical point will cause general body seizure movements and can cause severe burns, muscle damage, fractures and heart rhythm disturbance.

Prevention

• Do not overload power points
• Avoid exposed electrical wires
• Do not let children near electrical plug points
• Childproof power points
• 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
• Treat all electrical connections and wires as live, even if they are switched off at the distribution board (sometimes referred to as the mains)
• Never work with anything electrical while wet. Mowing the lawn or using power tools in wet weather, for example, is dangerous
• General safety tips in your home should be to inspect your appliances regularly, making sure the power cords are not cracked or frayed. If an appliance sparks or smokes when it is switched on, replace the appliance immediately
• When there is a power outage, treat all electricity points as live
• Always read an electric device’s manufacturer’s manual and do not service electrical parts yourself that are marked for specialist repair only.
  

Symptoms

• Burn wounds
• Injuries, including fractures and spinal injuries caused by muscle contraction and being flung against items
• Heart rhythm disturbances
• Loss of consciousness
• Cardiac arrest.
  

Treatment

• Avoid exposure to the electricity source. If possible, switch it off
• Remove the patient from the electrical source to a safe area
• Check the patient’s circulation, airway and breathing
• If there are no signs of life, start CPR immediately
• Contact emergency services
• If a patient is breathing but unconscious, place the person in the recovery position
• Cover the burn wounds with clean, non-absorbent material.