Electricity, which makes our lives easier, can cause loss of life and property when used carelessly. Electric shock is a dangerous event that occurs as a result of careless use of electricity.
Since we cannot see with the naked eye whether wires are live, we must be careful not to touch cables carrying electricity. This is because contact between our body and electricity is dangerous enough to cause death.
The severity of an electrical accident depends on the intensity of the current passing through the body at the moment of contact with the live parts.
Effects of Electric Current on the Human Body
| CURRENT INTENSITY | PHYSIOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS |
|---|---|
| 0.01 mA | Threshold of perceiving the current, tingling in the hand |
| 1.5 mA | Numbness in the hand. Difficulty moving the hand and arm |
| 5-15 mA | Cramping in the hand and arm. Rise in blood pressure |
| 15-25 mA | Muscle contractions increase, but the heart is not yet affected. |
| 25-80 mA | Tolerable current intensity |
| 80-100 mA | Fibrillation of the heart (shock). Loss of consciousness |
It’s known that direct current, through its chemical effect, causes dissociation in the blood in the body. From this perspective, direct current, which has zero frequency and flows in one direction, is more dangerous than alternating current, which changes direction at a certain frequency.
Electric current electrolyzes the cells in the body, paralyzes the nervous system, and stops the heart by preventing the respiratory system from functioning. It also causes burns on both the interior and exterior of the body. This causes respiration and blood circulation to stop, resulting in certain death.
It has been observed that the human body is not dangerously affected by voltages up to 50 volts. For this reason, networks carrying 110 volts, 220 volts, or 380 volts, along with high-voltage transmission lines, are very dangerous. Just as there is a danger threshold for voltage, there is also a danger threshold for current intensity.
Cut the Current First
In the event of an electric shock, the first thing to do is cut off the electric current before touching the victim.
Use of Non-Conductive Material
If the current cannot be cut, insulating materials such as wood or plastic should be used to separate the victim.
Risk of Heart Rhythm Disorder
Since electric shock can cause a heart rhythm disorder, the victim must always be placed under medical observation.
First Aid for Electrical Accidents
Making the environment safe:
The priority for the first people to arrive at the scene should be to secure the surrounding area by taking measures to prevent more people from coming into contact with the current. Next, the electric current should be cut off at the switch or fuse; if this isn’t possible, the contact between the electrical source and the victim should be broken using a non-conductive (insulating) object.
The victim’s body should not be touched, and conductive ground or materials should not be stepped on, until you are absolutely certain the electric current has been cut off.
Assessing the victim’s vital functions and resuscitation (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
Once the victim has been removed from the current, their level of consciousness is assessed first, and anything constricting the body, such as a belt or tie, is removed or loosened.
If the victim is unconscious, the inside of the mouth should be checked. If there are dentures or a foreign object in the victim’s mouth, they should be removed.
Next, breathing should be checked, and if it has stopped, artificial respiration should be started immediately; circulation should then be checked, and if the heart has stopped, external cardiac massage should be started as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, in case the tongue blocks the airway due to shock, the patient’s mouth should be opened and the tongue pulled forward.
If breathing and circulation are present but the victim is unconscious, they should be placed in the stable recovery (side-lying) position.
First aid for electrical burns and injuries from falls
If there is a possible head or neck injury, every effort should be made to prevent the patient from moving, in order to protect the spinal cord.
-The patient’s burning clothing, shoes, and belt should be removed to prevent further injury.
-Clothing that has stuck to the body should not be removed.
-If there is a bracelet, dog tag, or ring on the burned area, it should be cut off and removed.
-Yogurt, tomato paste, or toothpaste should not be applied to the burn.
-The patient should be taken to the hospital without wasting time.
-Substances such as oil, cream, toothpaste, cologne, or powder should never be applied to the burn site.
-The burn site should be fully covered with a clean bandage.
Related Questions
Current above a certain intensity can disrupt the heart’s natural electrical rhythm, causing what we call fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat. This condition stops the heart’s blood-pumping function, posing a life-threatening danger.
Because direct current always flows in the same direction, it can cause a persistent chemical dissociation (electrolysis) in the blood in the body. Alternating current, on the other hand, continuously changes direction, so it doesn’t produce this kind of chemical effect to the same degree.
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