{"categories":"Medical procedure,Person Group Concept,Person Group Concept,Theme of Focus,Health Category,Health Category","keywords":"First aid,Burns first aid,Electrical burns first aid,Age Concept,Adult,19 to 44 younger,Age Concept,Adult,45 to 64 middle,Clinical Focus Value Set,Clinical Treatment,Skin, hair, and nails category,Injuries category","abstract":"\u003cp\u003eHow to administer first aid for an electrical burn.\u003c/p\u003e","title":"Electrical burns: First aid","body":"\u003cdiv class='section'\u003e\u003cdiv class='SectionHead'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class='SectionHTML'\u003e\u003cp\u003eElectrical burns may be caused by a number of sources of electricity, such as lightning, stun guns and contact with household current. You may treat minor electrical burns as you would other minor burns.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhen to contact your doctor\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA person who has been injured by contact with electricity should be seen by a doctor. Sometimes an electrical injury can cause damage to internal tissues, usually in an arm or a leg. The damage may be worse than one would expect from the burn on the skin.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCaution\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e    \u003cli\u003eDon't touch the injured person if he or she is still in contact with the electrical current.\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eCall 911 or your local emergency number if the source of the burn is a high-voltage wire or lightning. Don't get near high-voltage wires until the power is turned off. Overhead power lines usually aren't insulated. Stay at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) away \u0026mdash; farther if wires are jumping and sparking.\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eDon't move a person with an electrical injury unless the person is in immediate danger.\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhen to seek emergency care\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eCall 911 or your local emergency number if the injured person experiences:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e    \u003cli\u003eSevere burns\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eConfusion\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eDifficulty breathing\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eHeart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eCardiac arrest\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eMuscle pain and contractions\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eSeizures\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eLoss of consciousness\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eTake these actions immediately while waiting for medical help:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e    \u003cli\u003eTurn off the source of electricity if possible. If not, move the source away from both you and the injured person using a dry, nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eBegin CPR if the person shows no signs of circulation, such as breathing, coughing or movement.\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eTry to prevent the injured person from becoming chilled.\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eApply a bandage. Cover any burned areas with a sterile gauze bandage, if available, or a clean cloth. Don't use a blanket or towel, because loose fibers can stick to the burns.\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e","doc_id":"ART-20056687","object_id":"da89d183-c4ac-479b-b32a-dd2dc7e39524","updated_at":"2018-01-18","meta_keywords":"","benefit_summary":"","sections":{"":"\u003cp\u003eElectrical burns may be caused by a number of sources of electricity, such as lightning, stun guns and contact with household current. You may treat minor electrical burns as you would other minor burns.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhen to contact your doctor\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA person who has been injured by contact with electricity should be seen by a doctor. Sometimes an electrical injury can cause damage to internal tissues, usually in an arm or a leg. The damage may be worse than one would expect from the burn on the skin.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCaution\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e    \u003cli\u003eDon't touch the injured person if he or she is still in contact with the electrical current.\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eCall 911 or your local emergency number if the source of the burn is a high-voltage wire or lightning. Don't get near high-voltage wires until the power is turned off. Overhead power lines usually aren't insulated. Stay at least 20 feet (about 6 meters) away \u0026mdash; farther if wires are jumping and sparking.\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eDon't move a person with an electrical injury unless the person is in immediate danger.\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhen to seek emergency care\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eCall 911 or your local emergency number if the injured person experiences:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e    \u003cli\u003eSevere burns\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eConfusion\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eDifficulty breathing\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eHeart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eCardiac arrest\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eMuscle pain and contractions\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eSeizures\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eLoss of consciousness\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eTake these actions immediately while waiting for medical help:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e    \u003cli\u003eTurn off the source of electricity if possible. If not, move the source away from both you and the injured person using a dry, nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eBegin CPR if the person shows no signs of circulation, such as breathing, coughing or movement.\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eTry to prevent the injured person from becoming chilled.\u003c/li\u003e    \u003cli\u003eApply a bandage. Cover any burned areas with a sterile gauze bandage, if available, or a clean cloth. Don't use a blanket or towel, because loose fibers can stick to the burns.\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e"},"has_flash":false,"flash_content_url":null,"flash_content_height":null,"flash_content_width":null}