Electric Shock

Normal electrical current can be deadly and it is all around us.If you come across an unconscious person lying near an electrical source, assume that the person is a victim of electric shock. Electricity can cause paralysis of the nerve centers and breathing to stop. Electricity passes through the body from entrance to exit wound, causing damage to any body part in its path - even causing the heart to beat irregularly or stop. For example, if a strong current has entered the hand and exited through the foot, the current has probably traveled through vital organs, resulting in serious injury.

Do not touch a victim of electric shock who is still in contact with the source of power or touch the wire itself-even an insulated part of the wire.

Do not touch the victim until all wires are clear. A live, arcing wire may move, hitting you or someone else.

Do not try to remove a high-voltage wire from the vicinity of the victim under any circumstances.

• Cut the power at the source, if possible. If you can't turn off the power at the source(and it's not a high-voltage utility wire that's in contact with the victim), stand on a dry surface and disconnect victim from source of shock, using a long, nonconductive object, such as a fiberglass pole, a broom, or a rope.
  
  
• Call for emergency help.
  
  
• Monitor the ABC's and get help (airway, breathing, and circulation).
  
  
• If the victim's breath is weak or has stopped give rescue breathing immediately.
  
  
• While you wait for help to arrive and only if the source of the electrical shock is determined and eliminated keep the victim warm (cover with blanket, coat, jacket, etc. and insulate from the ground if cold).
  
  
• Give the victim nothing to drink or eat, until permitted by medical emergency technician or physician.