Electric shock can occur both at work and in the daily field of activity. The danger of injury will directly depend on the degree of electric shock. Most often, such a defeat is received by representatives of professions related to electrical engineering, but sometimes it happens that the current negatively affects the human body in everyday life. To avoid unpleasant consequences and death, it is important to remember how to provide the patient first aid and alleviate his condition before the arrival of professionals.
Reasons for electric shock
If the defeat occurred due to an unfortunate coincidence, then the main reasons may be:
- ignorance or non-observance of the basic safety rules when working with electrical devices;
- wire breakage of high voltage lines.
The following factors affect the degree of electric shock:
- a method for passing an electric current through a person’s body;
- strength and voltage level;
- the duration of exposure to the body;
- the age of the affected;
- general condition of the body, systems and organs;
- quality of first aid for electric shock.
The main types of electrical injuries
The type of injury received will depend on the degree of injury to a person by electric shock. The main types of injuries include:
- An electric burn is the most common lesion. There are three main types of injury. Contact form - in direct contact with a voltage source; electric current passes through the whole body of the patient. Arc lesion - the current does not pass through the whole patient’s body, but acts on it with an electric arc. The last type is a mixed lesion, which is distinguished by the combination of a contact and an arc shape.
- Electrophthalmia. The electric arc provokes powerful ultraviolet radiation, which leads to radiation and burns to the eyes. From such an effect on the conjunctiva of the eye, an inflammatory process develops in a short time. To prevent this condition from happening, it is important to use specialized protection against electric shock, as well as follow the basic rules for working with its sources.
- Metallization. In this condition, metal particles penetrate the skin and melt under the influence of an electric current. These are small elements that penetrate the outer layers of the skin, in particular this applies to open areas of the body. It should be remembered that such a condition can not be fatal. Soon, unpleasant signs of damage will pass, the skin will recover, its color will normalize and pain will go away.
- Electric signs. A chemical and thermal effect that provokes the formation of peculiar characters on the body with pronounced borders and colors from gray to yellow. Such symbols can be of various shapes (from round to oval), as well as represent lines and points. On the skin in this area of the body, necrosis begins to actively develop. As a result, due to the necrosis of the outer layers, the skin becomes hard. This condition after a certain period of time passes due to skin regeneration. Integuments restore their natural color and elasticity.
- Mechanical damage to the skin. This condition appears during prolonged exposure to an electric current on the human body. It leads to rupture of ligaments, muscles, as a result of strong muscle tension. In addition, a person may be injured in the neurovascular bundle. Serious injuries can sometimes occur (for example, fractures and complete dislocations). If first aid for electric shock was provided too late or the current was too long, then a fatal outcome cannot be ruled out.
How to provide first aid?
First aid equipment will depend on the degree of danger of electric shock to a person. It is forbidden to start providing first aid to a person in case of electric shock without observing the basic safety rules - it is first of all important to exclude the effect of current on the lifeguard.
For proper assistance, follow the instructions below:
- disconnect the electrical installation or its part, which affects the patient;
- if the current source cannot be disconnected, it is important to remember that the step voltage and the patient’s body are dangerous for the rescuer;
- if the voltage indicator is less than 400 V, then the patient can be dragged from the site of the injury for dry clothes, it is important to remember that it is extremely dangerous to touch exposed parts of the body, wet clothes, as well as the victim’s shoes;
- to protect your body from current discharges, it is important to use galoshes, dielectric gloves, rugs and special supports when saving the injured;
- if there is a conductor with current in the patient’s hand, then it should be cut with a sharp object, the handles of which are made of plastic or other material with insulating properties;
- if the voltage exceeds 1000 V, then the patient must be saved by means of a special insulating rod and pincers, while it is important to follow the instructions for their use;
- under the victim, who has fallen from electric shock, you should carefully carefully dry plywood or a board to help protect his body from contact with the electrified surface of the earth.
Degree of protection against electric shock
After eliminating the source of electric shock, it is important to determine the condition of the victim, and then draw up a first aid plan. To do this, you must follow these rules:
if a person has not lost consciousness from an electric shock, then he should be given time to fully relax from the transferred event;
in the presence of injuries, for example, bruises, burns and fractures - first aid should be provided before the ambulance arrives, if this is not possible, then it is important to deliver the patient to the clinic as soon as possible.
Loss of consciousness
If the victim of an electric current has lost consciousness, it is important to adhere to the following rules for first aid:
- If the patient has breathing, then first put it on a soft litter (blanket or blanket).
- Remove all excess, pressure clothing: loosen belt or unfasten shirt collar.
- It is important to eliminate blood and accumulated mucus from the oral cavity.
- Provide the patient with fresh air.
- Try to bring the patient to life with ammonia.
- Face should be moistened with liquid.
- Then grind the human body and wrap things up.
If there is no sign of life
First aid for an electric shock to a person without a pulse, with dilated pupils, intermittent or absent breathing, will be:
- Relieving breasts of excess, tight clothing.
- Eliminate all excess from the oral cavity.
- Carrying out self-massage of the heart.
- In the absence of breathing, perform artificial recovery.
Artificial respiration
It often happens that when an electric shock occurs, the victim has to carry out artificial respiration. For this, a special portable device RPA-1 is used.
It is with its help that ventilation of the lungs is carried out through the rubber pipe in the device and a mask worn on the patient’s face. For one use, the device is able to pump air up to 1 liter.
First aid for electric shock should be performed as follows:
- the patient is placed on his back;
- eliminate excess mucus and saliva from the oral cavity;
- insert a special duct, during this procedure it is important to ensure that the lungs do not interfere with the ventilation of the tongue;
- a mask is put on;
- using belts fix the volume of the fur;
- when stretching the fur, air from the atmosphere is added to it;
- when compressed, air is pumped into the respiratory tract;
- passive exhalation occurs through a breathing valve on the device during subsequent filling of the fur with air.
In the absence of a special device, ventilation should be carried out through the nose or mouth.
Electric shock severity parameters
The degree of danger of electric shock directly depends on many factors, the main of which include: the magnitude of the electric current, the time it affects the human body, the magnitude of the voltage acting on the body, the frequency and type of current, the path of electrical resistance through the human body, psychological and physical the state of the body, individual properties, general condition and characteristics of the environment (air temperature, humidity indicator, gas contamination and dustiness). There are several main factors that influence the degree of electric shock.
Amperage
What determines the degree of electric shock? An alternating current of industrial frequency (about 50 Hz) passing through the body begins to feel from the minimum values, with an increase in the strength of the current, the strength of its negative effect increases:
- 2-3 mA - the victim has a strong trembling of the fingers;
- 5-7 mA - severe convulsions and pain in the hands are recorded;
- 8-10 mA - pain that spreads to the entire limb and provokes the appearance of convulsive contractions of the muscles of the hand and forearm;
- 10-15 mA - muscle cramps only increase, a person can not control them and even get rid of the current conductor;
- 20-25 mA - problems with the functioning of the heart system and lungs begin, with prolonged exposure to such a current, even cardiac arrest or a sudden cessation of respiratory activity can occur;
- above 100 mA - the current passing through the human body provokes heart fibrillation - convulsive irregular heart contractions (pumping of blood by the heart stops);
- more than 5A leads to instant cardiac arrest, there is no state of fibrillation.
The strength of the current in determining the factors affecting the degree of electric shock will depend on the strength of the voltage and the resistance of the body of the victim. The higher the voltage and the lower the resistance of the body, the stronger the effect of current on the body.
The most dangerous places through which current can pass are vital organs (lungs, brain and heart) - head, limbs, chest.
Current frequency
Another factor determining the degree of electric shock is its frequency. The optimal industrial frequency mark is 50 Hz. Direct current and high frequency current are very dangerous for the body, it also has high threshold indicators.
At a voltage of 500 V, alternating current is considered more dangerous. Above 500 V, DC is most dangerous.
The exposure time also affects the degree of danger of electric shock. With an increase in the duration of exposure, the risk of death or serious complications during recovery of a person’s condition significantly increases. The most dangerous duration of the current exposure is one second or more.
The factors of the degree of electric shock will also depend on the specific situation. Cases of death of people from a weak current under a voltage of only 12 V and a successful outcome when exposed to a voltage of up to 1000 V were recorded. All this will depend on the individual state of the nervous system and the physical development of the victim.
Indoor safety
A number of hazardous production factors affecting the degree of electric shock include elevated voltage marks in an electric circuit, which can cause a current to pass through the human body at an elevated level. The room of increased danger can be described by the presence in it of certain dangerous conditions, which include:
- Dampness. At the same time, the relative humidity of the air constantly exceeds 75 percent (such rooms are moist), or if it contains conductive (coal, metal).
- Heat. The air temperature in the room for a long time exceeds 35 degrees Celsius.
- Conductive floor (metal, reinforced concrete, earthen or brick material).
Of particular danger are rooms in which air humidity reaches 100 percent. But it is important to remember that even rooms in which there are no factors affecting the degree of electric shock are not safe. It is important that a special grounding device is always installed near the power source. It is a collection of metal conductors that touch the ground and ground the conductor connecting the grounded parts of the electrical device to the ground electrode. A person should protect himself as much as possible from electric shock, since it is considered quite dangerous and can lead to death.