If the victim appears to be in shock, make him or her comfortable. Shock is apparent in shallow breathing, paleness and a low pulse rate. Lay the victim down, lower the head below the trunk, and keep warm with a coat or blanket.
If the person was the victim of an explosion, serious internal injuries akin to a car crash may have resulted because he or she may have been thrown away from the blast and landed on hard ground. Be careful moving these victims, particularly the head or neck area -- this may cause paralysis if there’s a spine injury.
If your victim is pregnant and sustains a shock, it’s wise to seek professional medical attention, no matter the level of injuries. In other cases, burns that are not healing or appear to expand need to be observed by a medical professional. This is particularly true if there was a period where the victim was unconscious from electrical contact.
At the Hospital
The medical team at a hospital will try to determine if internal injuries are present. To do this, they may administer an EKG to check the heart and take a blood count and urine sample to determine muscle enzymes, a sign of muscular injury. If the person has significant pain in certain areas, medical personnel may perform an X-ray or CT scan to look for fractures or dislocations.
If the electric accident victim appears in relatively good shape, you can deal with the injuries at home. Burns can be treated with ointment and bandages when a medical professional advises it.
Obviously, it’s best to avoid any potential for trouble by teaching young children about the dangers of electricity. Child-proof guards on wall outlets are a good way to stop accidents before they happen. As for adult injuries, caution is the watchword. Always check for frayed or damaged wires and use extreme caution when handling anything that conducts electricity.