Electrical Shock

Electrical shocks can be very dangerous, even if the shock comes from a low-voltage source. The severity of the shock also depends on the area shocked and the duration of the shock. If you are shocked on your hand or foot and the current travels to the ground or out of your body, it is less dangerous than if the current travels directly to your heart tissue. Here are a few tips to help you avoid electrical shocks and to assist you if you witness someone receiving an electrical shock.

In most U.S. households, there are two 120-volt wires that can create the standard 120-volt for small appliances and 240 volts for large appliances like washers and dryers. Some appliances run on 110 volts or 220 volts, so think about the standard 120-volt system allowing for a range from 110 to 120. Watts are determined by multiplying volts by amps. For example, an appliance that uses 10 amps, multiplied by 120 volts, uses 1200 watts.

Electricity can be very dangerous to work with. You should always have a professional install any appliances for you. Getting shocked by a standard household current can result in muscle contractions that force you to hold on to the current. People in this state can sustain ventricular fibrillation, which is when the heartbeat becomes irregular and stressed. Ventricular fibrillation can be fatal. Make sure you stay safe from electric shock by:

hiring a professional
avoiding all live wires
if you don’t know whether it’s live, just assume it is
know where your circuit breaker box is, what each breaker controls, and how to use the breakers
repair or replace faulty appliances immediately
discard frayed extension cords
avoid water while using appliances

Electrical shocks can result in burns, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, stopped breathing, erratic or stopped pulse. If you witness someone receive an electric shock, here’s what to do:

Hopefully, you’re wearing shoes with a rubber sole before you approach. Bare feet or socks can act as conduits for the electricity.
If the voltage is high enough, the person will not be able to let go of the current. Do not touch the person. Grab an object that is made of wood or rubber, like a broom, and knock the person free. Stay clear of the wire. Or, if you know where the breaker box is, shut off all the breakers. Remember, time is essential. Act as quickly as possible.
While you are administering CPR (if needed), call 911.
If the person is already free of the live wire but is unconscious, administer CPR and call 911.
If the person is conscious and breathing, cool any burns with cool water. Do not apply ointments of any kind.
If you witness a car accident involving a downed power line, stay clear of the line while you gesture to the driver to remain in the car until help comes. Staying inside is safer than exiting the car.

Home Accidents Commercial Accidents FDA Hazardous Exposure Intentional Injuries Medical Malpractice Negligence Owner Liability Police Related Injuries Product Liability Public Accidents Recreational Vehicle Accidents Vehicle/Traffic Accidents Work Accidents and Injuries Hazardous Exposure Cancer Agents Chemical Exposure Electrical Injury Poisoning Toxic Mold Toxins and Pollutants Electrical Injury Electrical Shock Electrocution Accidents Electrical Shock		Accidents Work Accidents and Injuries Vehicle/Traffic Accidents Owner Liability Negligence Product Liability Police Related Injuries Hazardous Exposure Medical Malpractice Commercial Accidents Public Accidents Intentional Injuries Recreational Vehicle Accidents FDA View All (13) Minimize Injuries Body and Limb Injury Head and Face Injuries Brain Injury Back Injury Burn Injury Heart and Lung Injury Injuries from Animals Children's Injuries Birth Injury Emotional Injuries Sexually Transmitted Diseases View All (11) Minimize Drug Injuries RotaShield Mirapex Protonix Mellaril Menactra Meningitis Vaccine Abilify Accolate Actonel Actos Accutane Depakote ACE Inhibitors Adderall Advair Advil Aldara Daypro Ambien Amiodarone Aptivus Aranesp Arava Darvon Aredia Aricept Avandia Avonex Darvocet Baycol Betaseron Bextra Bismacine Bitter Orange Campath Cardizem Celebrex Celexa Cipro Cleocin Clinipad Products Clozaril Complete Moisture Plus Concerta Cordarone Coreg Crestor Cylert Cymbalta Cytotec DES Dexedrine Dexatrim Dilantin Diltiazem Ditropan Dostinex Doxycycline Duract Duragesic Patch Effexor Elidel Enbrel Ephedra Epogen Estratest Evista Fen Phen Fleet Enema Fluoroquinolones Foradil Fosamax Gadolinium Geodon Gleevec Heparin Herceptin Hismanal Humira Interceed Intergel Ketek Lamictal Lamisil Larium Levaquin Levitra Levodopa Lexapro Lotronex Lunesta Luvox Lymerix Lyrica Macugen Meridia Metabolife Metadate Methazolamide Methylin Mifeprex Mobic Motrin Natrecor Neurontin NeutroSpec Nevirapine Nexium Norplant Novantrone NovoSeven Ortho Evra Patch Ortho Prefest OxyContin Pacerone Palladone Parlodel Paxil Permax Plavix Posicor PPA Premarin Premphase Prempro Prevacid Prilosec Procrit Propulsid Proton Pump Inhibitors Protopic Serentil Sinemet Prozac Raptiva Raxar Redux Reglan Relafen Relenza Remeron Remicade Reminyl ReNu Contact Solution ReNu MultiPlus Solution ReNu with MoistureLoc Requip Rezulin Risperdal Ritalin RotaTeq Seldane Serevent Seroquel Serzone Silicone Soriatane Sporanox Stadol Strattera Symbyax Tamiflu Tamoxifen Tasmar Tequin Terbutaline Thalidomide Thimerosal Third Generation DES Tiazac Trasylol Trileptal Tysabri Viagra Videx Vincristine Vioxx Wellbutrin Xenadrine Xigris Xolair Zelnorm Zerit Zevalin Zicam Zithromax Zoloft Zometa Zyban Zyprexa Botox View All (191) Minimize
Electrical Shock Electrical shocks can be very dangerous, even if the shock comes from a low-voltage source. The severity of the shock also depends on the area shocked and the duration of the shock. If you are shocked on your hand or foot and the current travels to the ground or out of your body, it is less dangerous than if the current travels directly to your heart tissue. Here are a few tips to help you avoid electrical shocks and to assist you if you witness someone receiving an electrical shock. In most U.S. households, there are two 120-volt wires that can create the standard 120-volt for small appliances and 240 volts for large appliances like washers and dryers. Some appliances run on 110 volts or 220 volts, so think about the standard 120-volt system allowing for a range from 110 to 120. Watts are determined by multiplying volts by amps. For example, an appliance that uses 10 amps, multiplied by 120 volts, uses 1200 watts. Electricity can be very dangerous to work with. You should always have a professional install any appliances for you. Getting shocked by a standard household current can result in muscle contractions that force you to hold on to the current. People in this state can sustain ventricular fibrillation, which is when the heartbeat becomes irregular and stressed. Ventricular fibrillation can be fatal. Make sure you stay safe from electric shock by: hiring a professional avoiding all live wires if you don’t know whether it’s live, just assume it is know where your circuit breaker box is, what each breaker controls, and how to use the breakers repair or replace faulty appliances immediately discard frayed extension cords avoid water while using appliances Electrical shocks can result in burns, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, stopped breathing, erratic or stopped pulse. If you witness someone receive an electric shock, here’s what to do: Hopefully, you’re wearing shoes with a rubber sole before you approach. Bare feet or socks can act as conduits for the electricity. If the voltage is high enough, the person will not be able to let go of the current. Do not touch the person. Grab an object that is made of wood or rubber, like a broom, and knock the person free. Stay clear of the wire. Or, if you know where the breaker box is, shut off all the breakers. Remember, time is essential. Act as quickly as possible. While you are administering CPR (if needed), call 911. If the person is already free of the live wire but is unconscious, administer CPR and call 911. If the person is conscious and breathing, cool any burns with cool water. Do not apply ointments of any kind. If you witness a car accident involving a downed power line, stay clear of the line while you gesture to the driver to remain in the car until help comes. Staying inside is safer than exiting the car.