First Aid for Electrical Burns.
It’s 2021 Burn Awareness Week and Transworld Electric is sharing first aid safety for electrical burns. Prevention and safety should be practiced to prevent electrical burns but if an electrical burn does happen it is important to proceed with caution to protect yourself and the burn victim. Electrical burns and injuries are diagnosed based on symptoms and are categorized into 3 degrees of severity: first-degree, second-degree, and third-degree burns.
Check HERE to check out electrical burn safety tips.
How to help someone who has an electrical burn?
- 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. Stay at least 20 feet away — farther if wires are jumping and sparking.
- Never move someone with an electrical injury unless the person is in imminent danger.
While waiting for medical help there are ways you can help:
- Turn off the source of electricity if possible. If not, move the source away from both you and the injured 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.
- Rinse the burns with water, and 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.
- Don’t move a person with an electrical injury unless the person is in immediate danger.
Electrical burns can cause damage to internal tissues and the damage may be worse than one would expect from the burn on the skin. Call 911 if the burn victim experiences:
- Severe burns
- Confusion
- Difficulty breathing
- Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
- Cardiac arrest
- Muscle pain and contractions
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Lightheadedness and weakness
The American Burn Association and its members dedicate their efforts and resources to promoting and supporting burn-related research, education, care, rehabilitation, and prevention. Their website is a great resource to learn more about burn prevention and safety. Click HERE to visit their website.
