FIRST AID FOR ELECTRIC SHOCK

[venu kumar]

Shock is a common occupational hazard associated with working with
electricity. A person who has stopped breathing is not necessarily
dead but is in immediate danger. Life is dependent on oxygen, which is
breathed into the lungs and then carried by the blood to every body
cell. Since body cells cannot store oxygen and since the blood can
hold only a limited amount (and only for a short time), death will
surely result from continued lack of breathing.
However, the heart may continue to beat for some time after
breathing has stopped, and the blood may still be circulated to the
body cells. Since the blood will, for a short time, contain a small
supply of oxygen, the body cells will not die immediately. For a very
few minutes, there is some chance that the person's life may be saved.
The process by which a person who has stopped breathing can be
saved is called artificial ventilation (respiration). The purpose of
artificial respiration is to force air out of the lungs and into the
lungs, in rhythmic alternation, until natural breathing is
reestablished. Records show that seven out of ten victims of electric
shock were revived when artificial respiration was started in less
than three minutes. After three minutes, the chances of revival
decrease rapidly.
Artificial ventilation should be given only when the breathing has
stopped. Do not give artificial ventilation to any person who is
breathing naturally. You should not assume that an individual who is
unconscious due to electrical shock has stopped breathing. To tell if
someone suffering from an electrical shock is breathing, place your
hands on the person's sides at the level of the lowest ribs. If the
victim is breathing, you will usually be able to feel movement.
Once it has been determined that breathing has stopped, the person
nearest the victim should start the artificial ventilation without
delay and send others for assistance and medical aid. The only
logical, permissible delay is that required to free the victim from
contact with the electricity in the quickest, safest way. This step,
while it must be taken quickly, must be done with great care;
otherwise, there may be two victims instead of one.
In the case of portable electric tools, lights, appliances,
equipment, or portable outlet extensions, the victim should be freed
from contact with the electricity by turning off the supply switch or
by removing the plug from its receptacle. If the switch or receptacle
cannot be quickly located, the suspected electrical device may be
pulled free of the victim. Other persons arriving on the scene must be
clearly warned not to touch the suspected equipment until it is
deenergized.
The injured person should be pulled free of contact with
stationary equipment (such as a bus bar) if the equipment cannot be
quickly deenergized or if the survival of others relies on the
electricity and prevents immediate shutdown of the circuits. This can
be done quickly and easily by carefully applying the following
procedures:

1.Protect yourself with dry insulating material.

2.Use a dry board, belt, clothing, or other available nonconductive
material to free the victim from electrical contact. Do NOT touch the
victim until the source of electricity has been removed.

Once the victim has been removed from the electrical source, it
should be determined whether the person is breathing. If the person is
not breathing, a method of artificial respiration is used.