How to treat electric shock

Electric shock is a common hazard of working with electrics, and no matter how experienced and careful you are – accidents can happen. This is why it’s important to know what can result from an electric shock, and how to treat yourself or someone else.

Electrical Burns

Probably one of the most common results of an electric shock is a burn. There are 3 main types of burn, each one requiring a different course of treatment.

You may be familiar with the ‘degrees’ of a burn, but these classifications have been updated to superficial, partial thickness, and full thickness.

Superficial burn

Superficial burns only affect the top layer of skin on a small area of the body. Symptoms of a superficial burn include:

• Pain
• Redness
• Swelling

Partial thickness burn

Partial thickness burns have burned through to the second layer of the skin. They can range from mild to severe, depending on the area of skin that is affected. A severe partial thickness burn is a burn that goes down to the second layer of the skin over a large area.

Partial thickness burns are also always severe if they occur on the hands, feet, face, or groin.

Partial thickness burns can be easily differentiated from a superficial burn as a partial thickness burn will blister.

Full thickness burns

Full thickness burns are the most serious type of burn. They burn through the top layers of skin and affect the tissues beneath it.

Full thickness burns are characterised by numbness of the affected area (because the nerve endings have been burned) and the skin turning white or black.

How to treat electrical burns

No matter the severity of the burn, it’s important to quickly cool this down – ideally by running it under cool water. It is important that it is cool, rather than cold, as too cold water could do more harm than good. Do not apply ice.

Do not apply any ointments, creams, or fats to the burn (some old ‘wisdom’ recommends the application of butter, but this is not helpful).

Apply a sterile, non-fluffy dressing to the burn, or cling film if that’s all you have to hand.

More serious symptoms

More serious symptoms of an electric shock include loss of consciousness, breathing problems, seizures, and irregular heartbeat.

You should call 999 if you or someone around you has been electrocuted and is experiencing these symptoms.

If the person is unconscious, check their pulse and breathing and either put them into the recovery position or perform CPR if necessary. HOWEVER – do not touch a person who is still holding on to the source of electricity.

Compartment Syndrome

Even if you feel and seem fine after a shock, being electrocuted can cause Compartment Syndrome. This is a condition where muscle damage causes your limbs to swell, which can compress arteries and lead to serious health problems.

It can take some time for the symptoms of compartment syndrome to develop, so you should keep an eye on your arms and legs immediately following a shock.