When an electrical emergency happens, it happens quickly. Knowing what to do in this situation can not only help you, but also anyone else affected by it. Whether at home or at work, there are things to do while you wait for the trained professionals to arrive. Whether injury or the potential for danger, there are ways to keep calm and carry on when stress is at a high. Here is how you can handle the situation like a trained pro.
Step 1: Don’t Touch Someone Being Shocked
Your first instinct may be to rush over and help – don’t. Given that electricity is a powerful element with the potential to kill or seriously injure someone, limiting the number of people exposed to any sort of shock should be your number one guiding factor when dealing with a bad situation. In many cases someone going through electric shock can appear to be ‘stuck’ to the wire. This happens because the voltage is at a high enough level that it causes all their connected muscles to contract and tighten their grasp on the cabling or source. If they cannot let go it can mean serious issues, but you need to break or stop the connection before you can touch them directly.
Step 2: Call Emergency Services
It’s important that you phone these quick response services as soon as possible. Anyone impacted by serious electric shocks will need treatment from medical professionals as soon as possible. And the power issues need to be managed by an electric professional incase any other issues arise soon after the initial situation. It is best to make the call while someone else turns down the power, but if you are alone, this is the next step to follow. Get the experts on their way before you try and deal with anything further yourself. When you call, give as much detail as possible on where you are and what’s happened to ensure they come fully prepared.
Step 3: Turn Off The Power
If it’s safe to do so without putting yourself in danger, turn off the power supply completely to ensure no more harm can be done. This makes the area safer to move around in, especially when dealing with water or close situations. In situations where you can’t turn the power off safely, you need to use any dry, non-conductive item to try and separate anyone suffering from shock from the source. Wait until the power professionals are on site to handle the mains.
Step 4: Administer First Aid Where Able
Only once the person is away from the current and safe to touch, can you begin any first aid you may be able to attend to. Injuries from electric shocks can range from serious burns to cardiac arrest and death, and you need to know how to deal with different scenarios, or wait for the professionals to arrive.
When you are dealing with an electrical emergency, be sure to call the trusted team at Integrum Power Group to get the issues solved right away. Contact us today!