Have you ever witnessed someone in an electric shock? It is a very scary sight to see. But what is your reaction to that? The first action you think of is trying to separate the source of electricity from them. Is that safe to do? If it is some minor electric current, then it’s fortunate, but some electric shocks are so strong that they may result in the death of the person, and the rescuer might be in danger if not acted with caution. This life-threatening situation is known as Electrocution. Victims of electrocution need immediate high-quality CPR to increase the chance of survival.
When a person suffers a severe electric shock, it mostly affects circulation and results in cardiac arrest. In such a life-threatening situation, knowing how to perform CPR makes all the difference. In this blog, let’s understand electrocution, including CPR techniques for electrocution victims and precautions for electrical accidents.
What is Electrocution?
Electrocution is a serious injury caused by an electric shock when a person comes into direct contact with an electrical current. It generally refers to the fatal exposure to electric current, but it can also result in non-fatal conditions such as burns, nerve damage, cardiac arrest, or respiratory failure.
Electrocution occurs when an electric current flows throughout the body, which severely affects the normal functioning of the body, mainly the heart, brain, and muscles.
Common causes of Electrocution include:
1. Faulty electrical equipment
2. Electricity contact with water
3. Lightning Strikes
4. Mishandling of electric home appliances
Electrocution can result in the following life-threatening issues:
1. Sudden cardiac arrest
2. Unconsciousness
3. Burns (external and internal)
4. Organ failure
and in severe cases, death
Step-by-Step Guide: CPR for Electrocution Victims
If you come across a victim of Electrocution, you should be ready to provide CPR to save the person’s life. Delayed care could result in the death of the victim. Since many electrocution ultimately leads to cardiac arrest, even bystander CPR plays a great role in the survival of the patient.
Here is the step-by-step guide to perform CPR for Electrocution victims:
1. Assess the Situation
Before you try to help or touch an electrocuted person, it’s very important to make sure that your attempt is safe. If you rush in without checking, you might accidentally get hurt yourself or cause another accident.
Here is how you can access the situation:
1. You should carefully look for live electrical wires, water, fire, or other hazards.
2. Identify the power source and switch it off if possible, or push the victim away from the electrical source using a non-conductive object.
3. Then take a moment to check for any danger, like traffic, fire, or unstable conditions.
2. Check for Responsiveness, Breathing, and Pulse
After you ensured the safety for both you and the victim, you should then check if the person is responsive or still conscious or not. Gently tap the person and shout their name, asking them, “Are you listening? Are you okay?” and see if they respond to any. If there is no response from the victim, call EMS immediately.
The next thing you need to do is to check for breathing and pulse, not more than 10 seconds before giving CPR using the following procedure:
1. Look: Check for rise and fall of the victim’s chest.
2. Listen: Place your ears near the victim’s mouth and nose. Do you hear their breath?
3. Feel: Try bringing your face near their mouth to check the airflow and simultaneously check their pulse by placing two of your fingers on the carotid artery in their neck.
3. Call Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
If you are alone during the rescue, it is crucial to call EMS immediately as soon as you witness the accident. Then, after assessing the scene safety and the condition of the victim, you should proceed to perform CPR. Always keep the phone on speaker to communicate with the medical help until their arrival on the scene. Give them accurate details of the situation so that they can come fully prepared.
While you wait for EMS to arrive, you should proceed with hands-only CPR if you are not trained or confident enough. It is crucial to provide CPR within 4 minutes in most electrocution cases.
4. Perform Chest Compressions
You should start by providing full chest compressions to the electrocution victims at the rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Make sure you allow the victim’s chest to fully recoil to maintain the high-quality compressions. Chest compressions must be uninterrupted except for the mandatory pauses such as for providing rescue breathing, switching rescuer’s position, or during AED use.
It is essential to achieve a high compression fraction by maintaining the ratio of 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths. Continue the cycle until you see signs of life in the victim or medical help arrives. It manually helps the heart to pump blood to different body parts.
5. Give Rescue Breaths
After you have given 30 full chest compressions, check if the victim is conscious or responding. If still unconscious and not breathing, manage the airway using the head-tilt-chin-lift method and proceed the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Make sure the victim’s mouth is completely sealed with yours when giving the rescue breaths. If you are trained and the Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) is available, use it for giving effective rescue breaths, ensuring proper ventilation and chest rise with each blow.
6. Use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
The combination of high-quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to bring normal heart rhythm significantly increases the survival chances of the patient. Even if you are not sure how to use an AED, they come with built-in voice prompts to help laypersons with procedures.
AED usage technique:
1. Start the AED machine and pay attention to the voice prompts.
2. Remove the clothing of the victim and anything that obstructs full contact between the pads and skin.
3. Place one pad to the right side of the chest, below the collarbone, and another to the left side, below the armpit.
4. For children, using pediatric or infant-specific pads is best, and always make sure the shock energy is set lower.
5. Keep monitoring the heart rhythm readings and continue following the voice prompts until signs of life or emergency help arrive.
7. Continue Giving CPR and Keep Assessing the Victim
Electrocution victims require immediate CPR. You should continuously provide CPR while checking for signs of life, such as normal breathing, coughing, or movement during pauses. If the victim starts breathing at any point, even though still unconscious, it is crucial to keep them in the recovery position to ensure proper airway and prevent choking.
You should turn them onto their side so that their mouth is angled towards the ground. Gently speak to them and see if they are responding. Keep close monitoring of the victim and give the details about the incident and the victim’s condition to the medical personnel when they arrive at the scene. If possible, you can carry the victim safely to the nearby hospital.
Why is Post-Rescue Care Needed for Electrocution Victims?
Electrocution generally causes internal injuries that may not be immediately visible. Even if the victim regains consciousness after CPR and appears stable, post-rescue care is critical.
Electrical shocks can lead to:
1. Internal or external burns and bruises
2. Organ and muscle damage
3. Respiratory problems
4. Cardiac arrhythmias
5. Seizures
In many cases, symptoms like chest pain, severe burning sensations, dizziness, and abnormal heartbeat develop only hours or even days later. That’s why immediate and full medical evaluation and care are essential for every electrocution victim, even if they appear fine initially. Early medical intervention can help prevent serious complications and ensure proper recovery.
Precautions for Electrical Accidents
Electrocution incidents can occur anytime, especially in our homes and workplaces, which can lead to serious injuries and even fatalities. According to the data by Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), there were 126 fatalities in 2020, which was the lowest number recorded since 2003.
Here are some preventive measures for electrical accidents:
1. Use grounded outlets and circuit breakers
2. Keep electrical appliances away from water
3. Teach kids about electrical hazards
4. Wear protective gear when working with electricity
5. Avoid using frayed cords or damaged plugs
Conclusion
Electrocution emergencies can occur anywhere, and most of them are life-threatening. In such cases, knowing how to perform CPR for electrocution victims can make a difference between life and death. In the moments following an electric shock, your quick action matters the most. Whether it’s a high-voltage workplace electric shock or a less-severe home accident, stay calm, stay safe, and start CPR. The more people trained in CPR, the more lives we can save.
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