Considerations

The human body conducts electricity very well. That means, electricity passes very easily throughout the body. Direct contact with electrical current can be deadly. While some electrical burns look minor, there still may be serious internal damage, especially to the heart, muscles, or brain.

Electric current can cause injury in three ways:

• Cardiac arrest due to the electrical effect on the heart
• Muscle, nerve, and tissue destruction from a current passing through the body
• Thermal burns from contact with the electrical source

Causes

• Accidental contact with exposed parts of electrical appliances or wiring
• Flashing of electric arcs from high-voltage power lines
• Lightning
• Machinery or occupational-related exposures
• Young children biting or chewing on electrical cords, or poking metal objects into an electrical outlet

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on many things, including the type and strength of voltate, how long you were in contact with the electricity, how it moved through your body, and your overall health.

Symptoms may include:

• Changes in alertness (consciousness)
• Broken bones
• Heart attack
• Headache
• Problems with swallowing, vision, or hearing
• Irregular heartbeat
• Muscle spasms and pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Breathing problems or lung failure
• Seizures
• Skin burns

First Aid

1. If you can do so safely, turn off the electrical current. Unplug the cord, remove the fuse from the fuse box, or turn off the circuit breakers. Simply turning off an appliance may NOT stop the flow of electricity. Do NOT attempt to rescue a person near active high-voltage lines.

2. Call your local emergency number, such as 911.

3. If the current can't be turned off, use a non-conducting object, such as a broom, chair, rug, or rubber doormat to push the person away from the source of the current. Do not use a wet or metal object. If possible, stand on something dry and that doesn't conduct electricity, such as a rubber mat or folded newspapers.

4. Once the person is away from the source of electricity, check the person's airway, breathing, and pulse. If either has stopped or seems dangerously slow or shallow, start first aid. (See: CPR)

5. If the person has a burn, remove any clothing that comes off easily, and rinse the burned area in cool running water until the pain subsides. Give first aid for burns.

6. If the person is faint, pale, or shows other signs of shock, lay him or her down, with the head slightly lower than the trunk of the body and the legs elevated, and cover him or her with a warm blanket or a coat.

7. Stay with the person until medical help arrives.

8. Electrical injury is frequently associated with explosions or falls that can cause additional severe injuries. You may not be able to notice all of them. Do not move the person's head or neck if the spine may be injured.

DO NOT

Stay at least 20 feet away from a person who is being electrocuted by high-voltage electrical current (such as power lines) until the power is turned off.

• Do NOT touch the person with your bare hands if they are still in contact with the source of electricity
• Do NOT apply ice, butter, ointments, medications, fluffy cotton dressings, or adhesive bandages to a burn
• Do NOT remove dead skin or break blisters if the person has been burned
• After the power is shut off, do NOT move the person unless there is a risk of fire or explosion

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your local emergency number, such as 911 if a person has received an electrical burn.

Prevention

• Avoid electrical hazards at home and at work. Always follow manufacturer's safety instructions when using electrical appliances
• Avoid using electrical appliances while showering or wet
• Keep children away from electrical devices, especially those that are plugged in
• Keep electrical cords out of children's reach
• Never touch electrical appliances while touching faucets or cold water pipes
• Teach children about the dangers of electricity
• Use child safety plugs in all outlets

Alternative Names

Electrical shock

References

Fish RM. Electrical injuries. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004: chap 201.

Schwartz LR, Balakrishnan C. Thermal burns. In: Tintinalli JE, Kelen GD, Stapczynski JS, Ma OJ, Cline DM, eds. Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004: chap 199.

Price TG, Cooper MA. Electrical and lightning injuries. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 140.

Update Date: 1/5/2012

Reviewed by: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.