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First
Aid For Electric Shock
Children, especially toddlers, love
sticking their little fingers anywhere and everywhere, especially into
plug points and sockets. The human body is a good conductor of electricity,
and contact with a live power source can cause significant burns, or may
interfere with the heart's electrical system.
Everyone has received minor electric
shocks sometime or the other, which are no cause for concern. But once
in a while, a lose wire or a faulty household appliance can shock the life
out of you - literally. Most of the
fatal electric shocks happen at
home.
Here's what you
can do if it happens in your home.
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The victim usually gets stuck
to the source of the electricity, and it is important that you first separate
him from the electrical source.
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Turn off the power supply switch and
disconnect the plug. It's best to simply turn off the main power supply
or pull out the fuse. Often, simply turning off the switch may not stop
the flow of electricity.
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In certain circumstances it may be quicker
to simply pull the victim away from the electrical source.
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Do NOT touch the victim with your bare
hands, or the electric current will pass through you as well.
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If you are barefoot, stand of some clothes
or any hand non-conductive material like wood or paper. Make sure you are
not standing on anything that is wet.
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Throw a blanket over the victim and
try to separate him from the source. Maje sure you don't touch him though.
You could also use dry, nonconductive material such as a wooden broom handle
or a chair to separate the victim from the live current. whatever is handy.
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Once the victim has been separated,
check to see if he is breathing. If breathing has stopped or seems slow,
administer CPR immediately.
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Let his head be slightly lower than
the rest of the body, and raise his legs.
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Cover the victim with a blanket.
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Move the victim as little as possible.
He may have suffered injuries to his spine and neck.
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If the victim has a burn, remove the
clothing from the burned area (unless it's stuck to the skin) and rinse
it in cool, running water. Cover the burn with a dressing.
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Don't apply ice or any other ointment
or cotton dressing to the burn.
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Call for emergency medical attention
as soon as possible.
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