Know Your First Aid in Electrocution Cases

Chances are, you’ll never have to rescue anyone on the receiving end of a severe electric shock unless you work in certain construction specialties. Any of us can be caught in a lightning storm, but the chances of being struck by lightning are remote. Nevertheless, it’s worth being prepared in the event of an unforeseen accident.
There are a few cardinal rules to remember when helping electrocution victims:

• Assume that the victim is still in contact with the current.
  
• Never touch the victim until you’re certain the current has been shut off or the victim has been removed from the current. (Otherwise, you can be electrocuted, too.)
• If you can safely do so, shut off the power source at the fuse box or service panel. If it’s more practical, pull the plug from the receptacle.
• Push or pull the person from the power source using something nonconductive such as a wooden broom, a rubber mat, or a plastic chair. Don’t use anything made of metal.
• Never directly touch the source of the current.
• If the victim has stopped breathing, call 911 and begin CPR. (If the situation warrants, call 911 before attempting any rescue.) In the event of a high-voltage electrocution such as an industrial situation or contact with power lines, do not attempt any direct rescue. Currents this strong can jump beyond the victim and hit the rescuer as well. Call the fire department and keep others at a safe distance.

Summer lightning storms bring their share of electrocutions as well. A bolt of lightning can carry
millions of volts of electricity, far more than a misbehaving kitchen receptacle. When you assist a lightning victim, the current already has passed through, so you don’t have to worry about being electrocuted as well (unless lightning decides to strike twice, of course).