Electric Shock Injury

What is Electric Shock Injury

When electricity passes through the body, it can damage the skin and internal organs. A strong electric shock (high voltage) can harm the heart, muscles, and brain. The severity of an electric shock injury depends on several factors, such as the voltage, the type of current, and the length of contact.

Most electric shock injuries that cause serious damage to the body are from a shock that is greater than 600 volts. However, just 50 volts of electricity may be enough to disrupt the heart’s rhythm. Household electricity usually ranges from 110–240 volts of alternating current. A high-tension wire may be 100,000 volts or more.

What are the causes?

Common causes of this condition include:

• Contact with electricity from wires or appliances in the home.
• Children chewing and biting electric cords or playing with electric outlets.
• Getting hit by lightning.
• Workplace injury.
• Injury from a high-voltage power line.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Tingling and numbness.
• Very bad pain.
• Muscle spasms.
• Skin burns (thermal burns).
• Broken bones.
• Head injury (trauma).
• Chest pain.
• Very fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations).
• Heart attack.
• Trouble breathing, hearing, seeing, or swallowing.
• Headache.
• Confusion.
• Loss of memory.
• Jerky movements that you cannot control (seizure).
• Losing consciousness or passing out.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed based on:

• Your symptoms.
• History of receiving a shock.
• A physical exam. This may include tests to determine how badly you have been injured. You may have:
  • Blood tests to check:
    • Your blood cell counts (CBC).
    • Minerals in your blood (electrolyte panel).
    • For muscle or kidney damage.
    • The oxygen level of your blood.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) to evaluate heart function.
  • Urine tests to check for muscle enzymes. This would show damage to the muscles.
  • Imaging studies, including:
    • X-rays of your chest or spine or both.
    • Ultrasound.
    • CT scan.

How is this treated?

Treatment for electric shock injuries depends on the type of injury you have. Emergency treatment may include:

• IV fluids and medicines to support blood pressure.
• Oxygen and breathing support, if necessary.
• Treatment for burns, broken bones, or head injuries.
• Keeping the neck and spine from moving, if there are signs of a spine fracture.
• A long-term treatment plan, which may include surgery to treat broken bones or severe burns.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Do notdrive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your wounds, if this applies. Make sure you:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your bandage as told by your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

How is this prevented?

To prevent electric shock injuries in the future:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and precautions when using a home electric appliance.
• Keep electrical appliances away from the tub or shower.
• Keep electric cords out of the reach of children.
• Do nottouch wet surfaces, faucets, or water pipes while using an electric appliance.
• Make sure the power is off before you work on any wires or electrical appliances.
• Use safety plugs in all electric outlets.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You develop new symptoms.
• Your symptoms change or get worse.

Get help right away if:

• You have a seizure.
• You have chest pain.
• You have trouble breathing.

Summary

• When electricity passes through your body, it can damage your skin and internal organs.
• You may undergo a variety of tests to determine how badly you have been injured.
• Treatment depends on the type of injury you have. You may require emergency treatment if you have been badly injured.