Understanding Electrical Shock

Being in the electrical industry, we have witnessed and listened to many stories about the strange things electricity can do around metal, water, and the human body. One of the threats we deal with in our enterprise is electric shock. An electrical shock is a bodily injury from immediate contact with a high-voltage source. But there are numerous different elements at play. The voltage doesn't cause the damage, but the current, the shock's duration, and the body parts involved make a difference.

Adults are in danger when they work on electrical systems and don't shut the power (or somebody else unknowingly turns it back on) or if they are standing in water. Again, this is much more common than people believe because they don't want to reset all their clocks, forget, or don't recognize how harmful electricity is. It is not only homeowners; OSHA reports that 8% of all workplace deaths involve electrocution.

Electrical shock injuries demand prompt medical attention, but an individual still in contact with electricity should not be touched until the power is turned off. Alternatively, if possible, you should move the source away from the victim with a piece of timber, plastic, or another nonmetal entity. If you can do neither of these things, a responder can contact 911 and request that the electricity to be turned off at the location and then start CPR if the individual isn't breathing.

If somebody near you comes in contact with high voltage wire or lightning, you need to call 911 and don't go around wires until the power is off. This is because electric companies do not insulate high-voltage cables.

Electrical shock can toss a person backward, resulting in neck or spinal injuries. Therefore, do not move the wounded individual. Instead, try to keep them warm and motionless until help comes. Noticeable burns should be wrapped loosely with a bit of gauze but never with a towel or paper because these will stick to a burn.

If somebody encounters an electrical shock and doesn't go into cardiac arrest instantly or sustain agonizing burns, he will likely live. However, sadly enough, the most standard cause of death when individuals are hospitalized because of electrical shock is an infection of their burns.

Other wounds:

Brain injuries from electrical shock can provoke seizure disorders, anxiety, depression, and personality disorders. The prospect also remains for eye injuries, internal injuries, flash burns, or deep tissue burns.

The critical thing to recognize is that electrical burns can damage in unusual ways since electricity doesn't always pursue a direct path and can move in odd directions once it strikes the body. Therefore, any but the mildest shock should be attended to by a professional, and a medical opinion should be a focus in the case of an electrical shock to an expectant mother or child, even a mild one.

Regardless of the subject, many of our blogs touch heavily on safety. Electricity has made life easy and comfortable in so many ways that it's easy to ignore that it's a potent agent for both good and bad.

So, don't hesitate to call us if you have an electrical issue or need the advice of electrical contractors in Winter Park, FL. We are glad to help and keep all the tools, equipment, and expertise to accomplish electrical work that will keep your household safe for years.