What Are The 4 Most Common Types Of Electrical Injuries?
Electrical injuries are a leading cause of death and disability in the United States, with thousands of fatalities occurring each year. These injuries can range from minor shocks and burns to more serious conditions such as organ damage or cardiac arrest. Learning about the four most common types of electrical injury—electrocution, electric shock, arc flash/blast, and indirect contact—can help increase safety awareness as well as provide valuable information for medical professionals treating cases related to electricity-induced trauma. Keep reading to find out more!
Electrical injuries occur when a person comes in contact with an electric current, which can be generated from a voltage source such as a wall outlet, lightning strike, or electrical appliance. Electrical energy can travel through the body and damage tissue, organs, and nerves when exposed to electricity.
Depending on the person’s physical characteristics and amount of contact time with the electric current, the severity of injuries can range from minor burns around the contact site to severe organ damage and sudden death caused by cardiac arrest. First-aid responders should carefully assess each situation and make sure that power is turned off at the source prior to providing aid to an injured individual.
It is highly recommended never to enter water if electricity is present as well as immediately seek help from night guards or emergency personnel if electricity is suspected of being involved in an injury.
Electrical injuries are an extremely serious and often life-threatening risk, with an estimated 30,000 people falling victim to these accidents each year in the US. What’s more, these events have been responsible for around 1,000 fatalities annually. Unfortunately, the high voltage shocks associated with electrical accidents can cause lasting damage, including severe burns and neurological or cardiac injury.
Fortunately, awareness of this danger is growing, meaning lawmakers and safety authorities are taking steps to decrease the number of yearly incidents that happen across the nation.
Electrical accidents can be hazardous and even fatal; therefore, it is essential to entrust electrical repairs and installation to a trained professional. Hiring an expert eliminates the risk of electrocution or other injuries resulting from incorrect installation or faulty wiring.
A qualified electrician will have the knowledge, competence, and experience required for any electrical job, ensuring that it is performed in a safe manner. Moreover, hiring an expert results in greater efficiency as they are able to complete the job quickly and accurately at an economical cost. With their extensive technical expertise and precision methods, you can rest assured that your electrical systems operate at optimal conditions.
What happens when electricity is passed through the human body?
When electricity passes through the human body, a variety of physical and psychological effects can occur. Depending on the strength of the current, it can cause damage, including burns, disruption of the heart’s rhythm, paralysis, and death. However, in cases where electricity is passed through the body for medical purposes, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), certain effects are both anticipated and desired; these include changes in blood pressure and brainwave activity, muscle contractions when muscles are stimulated with electrodes or electrical implants and an altered mental state. In any case, it is important to proceed with caution since the consequences of electricity passing through the human body can be potentially serious and unpredictable.
Electrocution
Electrocution accidents are caused by coming into contact with high-voltage electric current. These accidents can be fatal as the current disrupts body functions and prevents the heart from beating normally. Often, electrocution takes place when individuals come in contact with exposed production lines, overhead power lines, or faulty objects such as appliances or tools.
The severity of the accident depends on the duration and the amount of current passing through the body. Electrical shock injuries can result in severe harm, while electrocution is often fatal.
To prevent electrocution, people should always be aware of any exposed wires and check their tools to ensure they are operating safely before use. Regular safety checks in electrical installations should also take place to reduce the chances of electrocution.
Electric Shocks
Electric shock injuries are serious, but more often than not, any harm caused by electricity is non-lethal. It is important to be aware of the dangers of electricity and to always take the recommended safety precautions when dealing with electrical equipment or when working in an environment with a high risk of electric shocks.
Electric shock injuries may result in burns, fractures, falls and temporary paralysis, making them incredibly distressing and painful experiences. The main difference between electrocution and an electric shock injury is death – electrocution results in fatal consequences, whereas most electric shock injuries do not.
Treatment for an electric shock depends on the severity of the case but may include long-term medical interventions such as physical therapy or cognitive behavior therapy. If you or someone you know has been involved in such an accident, it is important to seek necessary medical care as soon as possible to help limit long-term damage or disabilities.
Mild Electric Shock
A mild electric shock is typically defined as one caused by voltages of less than 50 Volts. Though the effects do not cause any major symptoms or tissue damage, if exposed to a longer duration or low-frequency alternating current, it may be more dangerous as it causes extended muscle contraction, thus freezing the hand to the source and prolonging exposure. Given this and in consideration of safety experts’ advice, caution should be applied when dealing with electricity to prevent serious injuries.
Repeated exposure to low voltage electric shocks can come with adverse effects and cause serious injuries if left unaddressed. It’s important to practice safety when around electrically powered objects like appliances and machines at all times.
Arc Flash/Blasts
Arc flash or blasts are powerful electrical explosions that occur when individuals come into contact with an electrical system or a high-powered conductor. When exposed to temperatures as hot as 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit, the energy released can cause severe burns and other injuries.
Worker safety can be significantly improved by implementing preventative safety measures, such as proper hazard assessment and employee training. Heavy protective clothing can also help to limit exposure and reduce the severity of injury caused by arc flashes or blasts.
Companies should always take precautions when dealing with high electrical wattage components and similarly dangerous working environments. Utilizing the proper PPE and safety protocols could save a life from this damaging force.
Indirect Contact Accidents
Indirect contact electrical accidents occur when a person makes contact with a part of the electric circuit that is not intended to be live, such as a metal casing or wet insulation. This situation can arise due to poor maintenance or due diligence, like leaving an ungrounded device exposed in damp conditions.
Electrons flow through the unexpected voltage source and can cause serious injury to an unsuspecting victim. Thankfully, by following modern electrical safety regulations, this type of risk can be eliminated or drastically reduced in our homes and workplaces. Safety precautions should always be taken around any source of electrical power, and any contact between humans and sensitive equipment should be avoided if possible.
It is essential to ensure that all wiring is correctly installed according to industry standards, and personnel should take extra caution if they are dealing with exposed wires. Awareness of the potential dangers of indirect contact with electricity can help protect people from harm in many situations.
Can an electric shock damage your brain?
While most people believe that you cannot die from an electric shock, it is absolutely possible. It has been proven that electric shock can cause a variety of neurological symptoms and permanent brain damage in some cases. Yes, it’s true that the power of many household appliances is usually minimal; however, exposed cables or uninsulated wires may carry huge voltage levels and potentially be fatal if the person gets touched by those. Therefore, it is advised to be extremely careful around electricity because even the smallest shock can damage the delicate vital organs in our body – particularly our brains.
How do you treat an electrical injury?
It is important to act quickly and carefully when treating an electrical injury. Immediately, the power source should be shut off, and any equipment or wires should be disconnected from the source of electricity. The individual should then be removed from direct contact with the electricity source if possible, taking great care not to touch them yourself.
If necessary, first aid should be administered by someone qualified to do so to ensure that any burns or tissue damage is treated appropriately. The patient should visit a hospital as soon as practicable for further medical care. Early medical attention improves the chances of a full recovery and reduces the risk of an infection developing in burned areas.
When should you go to the doctor after an electrical injury?
Electrical injuries are some of the most serious and potentially dangerous injuries one can suffer, so it is important to always take them seriously. If you or someone you know has experienced an electrical injury, it is crucial that they seek medical help as soon as possible. Even if there appears to be no immediately visible severance, an underlying issue may be present that may not show up until a later time. Therefore, to ensure safety and proper recovery of the injury, anyone who has suffered from such an incident should go to see their doctor without delay.
Conclusion
Electrical injuries are no joke. If you have any questions about your electrical system or if it needs repair, always hire an expert. A little bit of money spent on peace of mind and safety is worth it—especially when lives are at stake. If you or someone you know has suffered an electrical injury, it is important to seek medical help immediately.