what are the treatment for electric shock

Full Answer

What to do in the event of an electric shock?

What to do in the event of an electric shock

• Cut off the source of electricity. Electrocution is caused by the intense electric shock the victim receives. ...
• Call emergencies. After cutting off the power or clearing the victim, it is important to contact the emergency room. ...
• Attempt to resuscitate the victim. ...
• Make the first dressings. ...

How to recover from an electric shock?

• Check for the source of the electrical shock. Look to see if the victim is still in contact with the source. ...
• Never use water, even if there is a fire, as water can conduct electricity.
• Never enter an area where electrical equipment is used if the floor is wet.
• Use a fire extinguisher made for electrical fires. ...

How to rescue a person from electric shock?

Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help:

• Turn off the source of electricity, if possible. If not, move the source away from you and the person, using a dry, nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.
• Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of circulation, such as breathing, coughing or movement.
• Try to prevent the injured person from becoming chilled.
• Apply a bandage. ...

What is the Best Shock Treatment?

Shock Treatment

1. Lay the Person Down, if Possible. Elevate the person's feet about 12 inches unless head, neck, or back is injured or you suspect broken hip or leg bones.
2. Begin CPR, if Necessary. For a child, start CPR for children. ...
3. Treat Obvious Injuries
4. Keep Person Warm and Comfortable. Loosen restrictive clothing. ...
5. Follow Up. ...

What is the best treatment for electric shock?

Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help:Turn off the source of electricity, if possible. ... Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of circulation, such as breathing, coughing or movement.Try to prevent the injured person from becoming chilled.Apply a bandage.

How do you recover from a mild electric shock?

Minor burns may be treated with topical antibiotic ointment and dressings. More severe burns may require surgery to clean the wounds or even skin grafting. Severe burns on the arms, legs, or hands may require surgery to remove damaged muscle or even amputation.

Can we drink milk after electric shock?

You can eat nutritious foods like milk, eggs, berries, fish, nuts, seeds, meat broth, and potato soup which aid with recovery after an electric shock by providing the calories, vitamins, minerals, and protein needed to support the healing process.

Which organ is first affected by electric shock?

An electric shock may directly cause death in three ways: paralysis of the breathing centre in the brain, paralysis of the heart, or ventricular fibrillation (uncontrolled, extremely rapid twitching of the heart muscle).

How to help someone with electric shock?

Electric shocks can be very serious, so it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. If the shock seems severe, call 911 or your local emergency number . Even if the shock seems minor, it’s best to follow up with a doctor to make sure there aren’t any less visible injuries.

What to do if someone is shocked?

If someone else receives a shock, keep several things in mind to both help them and keep yourself safe: Don’t touch someone who has been shocked if they’re still in contact with the source of electricity. Don’t move someone who has been shocked, unless they’re in danger of further shock.

How do you know if you have electric shock?

Potential symptoms of an electric shock include: loss of consciousness. muscle spasms. numbness or tingling. breathing problems. headache. problems with vision or hearing. burns.

What to do if you can't move?

If you can’t, yell for someone else around you to call. Don’t move, unless you need to move away from the electric source. If the shock feels minor: See a doctor as soon as you can, even if you don’t have any noticeable symptoms. Remember, some internal injuries are hard to detect at first.

What is the treatment for a burn?

burn treatment, including the application of antibiotic ointment and sterile dressings. pain medication. intravenous fluids. a tetanus shot, depending on the source of the shock and how it occurred.

What can cause an electric shock?

A range of things can cause an electric shock, including: power lines. lightning. electric machinery. electric weapons, such as Tasers. household appliances.

What to do if you have a fast heartbeat?

Call 911 or local emergency services if the person has trouble breathing, loses consciousness, has seizures, has muscle pain or numbness, or is feeling symptoms of a heart issue, including a fast heartbeat. Check the person’s breathing and pulse. If necessary, start CPR until emergency help arrives.

Causes

An electric shock occurs when someone has direct contact with a high-voltage current that travels through the body.

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of electrical shock can vary based on the type and amount of voltage. Some may include: 1

Treatment

When electrical shock occurs outside, the treatment may also involve several steps to ensure the area is safe before helping the victim, such as: 2

Summary

Electrical shock occurs when a high voltage current travels through the body. This usually happens when someone accidentally comes into contact with an electrical source. The aftercare may require anything from minor first aid care to treatment for internal and external burns.

A Word From Verywell

Electrical shock is almost always accidental, as well as preventable. The resulting injuries can range from minor to severe and, in some cases, fatal. Therefore, it's essential to be aware of electrical dangers in and around your home to keep you and any small children safe.

What to do if you get a burn from an electric shock?

Cover any burned areas with a sterile gauze bandage, if available, or a clean cloth. Don't use a blanket or towel, because loose fibers can stick to the burns. First aid for electric shock. American Institute for Preventive Medicine. http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/First_Aid_for_Electric_Shock/1490.

How to protect yourself from electrical burns?

Don't touch the injured person if he or she is still in contact with the electrical current. Call 911 or your local emergency number if the source of the burn is a high-voltage wire or lightning. Don't get near high-voltage wires until the power is turned off. Overhead power lines usually aren't insulated. Stay at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) ...

What to do if someone is injured?

Call 911 or your local emergency number if the injured person experiences: Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help: Turn off the source of electricity, if possible. If not, move the source away from you and the person, using a dry, nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.

How to treat a swollen ear?

Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help: 1 Turn off the source of electricity, if possible. If not, move the source away from you and the person, using a dry, nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood. 2 Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of circulation, such as breathing, coughing or movement. 3 Try to prevent the injured person from becoming chilled. 4 Apply a bandage. Cover any burned areas with a sterile gauze bandage, if available, or a clean cloth. Don't use a blanket or towel, because loose fibers can stick to the burns.

What to do when waiting for medical help?

Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help: Turn off the source of electricity, if possible. If not, move the source away from you and the person, using a dry, nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.

Can electrical shock cause burns?

An electrical shock may cause burns, or it may leave no visible mark on the skin. In either case, an electrical current passing through the body can cause internal damage, cardiac arrest or other injury. Under certain circumstances, even a small amount of electricity can be fatal.

What to do if you are shocked by a high voltage?

A person shocked by high voltage (500 volts or more) should be evaluated in the emergency department. It may be prudent to get prehospital care, usually obtained by calling 911. Following a low-voltage shock, go to the emergency department for the following concerns: Any noticeable burn to the skin.

What is the most common injury from electric shock?

Electrical energy flows through a portion of the body causing a shock. Exposure to electrical energy may result in no injury at all or may result in devastating damage or death. Burns are the most common injury from electric shock.

How to prevent electrical damage to children?

For children younger than 12 years, most electrical injuries are caused by power cords. Inspect your power cords and extension cords. Replace any cords that have broken or cracked external covering and any cord that has exposed wire.

Why do people die from electric shock?

Electric Shock Causes. Adolescents and adults are prone to high voltage shock caused by mischievous exploration and exposure at work. About 1,000 people in the United States die each year as a result of electrocution. Most of these deaths are related to on-the-job injuries.

How do you know if you have electric shock?

Electric Shock Symptoms. A person who has suffered an electric shock may have very little external evidence of injury or may have obvious severe burns. The person could even be in cardiac arrest. Burns are usually most severe at the points of contact with the electrical source and the ground. The hands, heels, and head are common points of contact.

What is the most common cause of death in people hospitalized following electrical injury?

Infection is the most common cause of death in people hospitalized following electrical injury. Electrical damage to the brain may result in a permanent seizure disorder, depression, anxiety, or other personality changes. Media file 1: Electric shock, contact injury to hand.

What does it mean when you get a burn from an electric cord?

Pain in a hand or foot or a deformity of a part of the body may indicate a possible broken bone resulting from the electric shock. In children, the typical electrical mouth burn from biting an electric cord appears as a burn on the lip. The area has a red or dark, charred appearance. When to Seek Medical Care.

What are the symptoms of electrocution?

Anyone who experiences the most severe of symptoms should be taken to the emergency room right away. These can include loss of consciousness, seizures, muscular pain, cardiac arrest or problems with heart rhythms, difficulty breathing, confusion and severe burns. It is important to turn off the electrical current as soon as possible so the person can be removed from the source of the electrocution. Those who have been shocked should be kept out of cold environments and may need to be administered CPR.

How do you know if you have been electrocuted?

The most obvious sign that someone has been hurt by an electrical shock is a burn near the area where the electrocution occurred. For example, if a child has bitten through an electrical cord, he or she may have a charred or red lip. Electrical shocks can cause the muscles to tense unnaturally, and may result in a fractured bone, which would be indicated by pain or deformity in the affected area. Internal injuries are also possible, and can be indicated by abdominal pain, chest pain, shortness of breath and even possible back pain that could indicate a spinal injury. One of the worst possible complications from an electrical shock is the affected person going into cardiac arrest.

When is ECT administered?

Promotional materials are careful in describing the procedure and present a picture that’s quite benign: “ECT treatment is generally administered in the morning, before breakfast,” reads one brochure. “Prior to the actual treatment, the patient is given general anesthesia and a muscle relaxant.

Why did terror stalk the halls of euthanasia hospitals?

According to history professor Henry Friedlander, “Terror stalked the halls of the euthanasia hospitals not only because patients feared being selected for killing at any time or because some of the staff beat and maltreated them, but also because some medical procedures imposed unusual pain.”.

What machines were used in the Moroccan prison system?

The center also had several Page-Russell electroshock machines, which were routinely used on prisoners. During the post-shock periods, Moroccan physicians questioned the detainees, seeking information about opponents to the king.”.

Does electricity shock the brain?

And Baughman says using electricity to shock the brain into a seizure—no matter how you do it—results in real and lasting harm. “You are creating a seizure which is prima facie evidence of brain damage,” he observes.

Does electric current cause seizures?

While the modern procedure is generally carried out without busted teeth and the more grisly features of its early practice, the principle is still the same: Electric current blazes through the brain to provoke a seizure—the logic being that seizures occurring in the brain have some therapeutic benefit, somehow.

Can a psychiatrist use psychotropic medications?

Psychiatrists often fiddle with the doses of psychotropic medications during a course of ECT treatments, which can have a huge effect on how patients report on their moods and mental states. Other studies rely on feedback from doctors, a research method with obvious perils.

What is electric shock therapy?

Electric shock therapy, better known as electroconvulsive therapy, is used to treat myriad mental illnesses, including severe depression, mania, and schizophrenia . It is not an appropriate choice for individuals living with mental illnesses treated effectively with talk therapy or medication.

How long does electric shock therapy take?

Electric shock therapy is completed over several sessions. These sessions are often administered over two to four weeks, at a rate of up to three sessions per week. Most sessions take between five and ten minutes, but preparation and recovery time can extend treatment time. Electric Shock Therapy Of The Past.

What is the name of the movie that depicts electric shock therapy?

Infamously depicted in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , electric shock therapy has gained a reputation as a brutal and inhumane punishment for those struggling with their mental health. This film does indeed portray the reality of a small portion of patients from the early days of electric shock therapy treatment.

What are the side effects of electric shock?

Physical Issues:Directly after electric shock therapy, some patients may experience physical side effects, such as nausea, headaches, jaw tension, or muscle pains. These side effects are typically short-lived and can be treated with over-the-counter medications.

Can shock therapy help with depression?

Shock Therapy For Depression: Individuals with severe forms of depression may find relief in electric shock therapy. Depression may be accompanied by psychosisor intense suicidal ideation. Depression that is resistant to medications and other treatment also makes an ideal candidate for shock therapy.

Is electric shock therapy considered anesthesia?

Patients also reported long-term and debilitating confusion. Electric shock therapy was often administered without anesthesia or muscle relaxants, so patients were conscious throughout the procedure. Little action was taken to mitigate these and other negative side effects of the treatment.

Is electric shock therapy a medical treatment?

Electric Shock Therapy Of The Past. Electric shock therapy has changed and developed over its life as a medical treatment. For instance, shock therapy for depression has its origins in the eighteenth-century, when the London Medical Journalcited intentional seizure induction as a treatment for various psychiatric disorders.

Why is electroconvulsive therapy used?

Why it's done. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can provide rapid, significant improvements in severe symptoms of several mental health conditions. ECT is used to treat: Severe depression, particularly when accompanied by detachment from reality (psychosis), a desire to commit suicide or refusal to eat. Treatment-resistant depression, ...

What is ECT used for?

ECT is used to treat: Severe depression, particularly when accompanied by detachment from reality (psychosis), a desire to commit suicide or refusal to eat. Treatment-resistant depression, a severe depression that doesn't improve with medications or other treatments. Severe mania, a state of intense euphoria, agitation or hyperactivity ...

What is ECT in medical terms?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure, done under general anesthesia, in which small electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental health conditions.

How often do you get ECT?

In the United States, ECT treatments are generally given two to three times weekly for three to four weeks — for a total of six to 12 treatments. Some doctors use a newer technique called right unilateral ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy that's done daily on weekdays.

How long after ECT can you drive?

However, some people may be advised not to return to work, make important decisions, or drive until one to two weeks after the last ECT in a series, or for at least 24 hours after a single treatment during maintenance therapy.

What is the test called when you have a seizure?

Internally, activity in your brain increases dramatically. A test called an electroencephalogram (EEG) records the electrical activity in your brain. Sudden, increased activity on the EEG signals the beginning of a seizure, followed by a leveling off that shows the seizure is over.

Is it safe to take ECT?

Risks. Although ECT is generally safe, risks and side effects may include: Confusion. Immediately after treatment, you may experience confusion, which can last from a few minutes to several hours. You may not know where you are or why you're there. Rarely, confusion may last several days or longer.

Causes

Signs and Symptoms

Treatment

• When electrical shock occurs outside, the treatment may also involve several steps to ensure the area is safe before helping the victim, such as:2 1. Examine the person visually but do not touch them. They can pass the electrical current on to you if still connected to the electrical source. 2. Call 911 or have someone else call 911 3. Check for a ...

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Prevention

Summary

A Word from Verywell