Every person at least once in his life has encountered such a concept as electrification. The briefest touch to someone - a small flash, a weak electric shock. Unruly electrified hair. Light flashes when rubbing synthetic materials. All of this is an example of the manifestation of mysterious electrification, a kind of superpower that any person can control from time to time. Some people experience this unusual phenomenon much more often than others, they are constantly shocked and try to find out the reasons for this phenomenon. Such people ask the question “I am very electrified and constantly receive electric shock, what should I do? How to eliminate this effect?

Why does a person get electrocuted?

In order to understand why a person receives an electric shock, you will have to familiarize yourself with the physics of the phenomenon.

The reason for the electrification of materials is static electricity. This concept hides a whole set of phenomena consisting in the appearance, preservation and relaxation of a free electric charge that arises in everyday life as a result of the friction of an object against an object. It is enough to carefully comb your hair, hold it in your fingers and rub pieces of synthetic fiber against each other - and behold, the intermolecular equilibrium quickly goes to hell. One part involved in friction loses an electron, and the other, on the contrary, gains one. The particles begin to move, forming oppositely charged electron layers. The resulting imbalance is called static electricity, which manifests itself in small flashes of current - sparking. This process occurs especially successfully in materials such as natural wool, fur, synthetics, paper, human hair, amber, plastic or polyethylene products. All these substances surround us in large quantities. everyday life, that’s why any person is electrified to a greater or lesser extent.

Static electricity occurs as a result of friction between bodies that do not conduct electricity or are semiconductors. As an example, we can consider the friction of synthetic fabric on the human body or the soles of shoes on the floor covering. There are several ways to prevent this not very pleasant phenomenon.

If you wear clothes made of wool or synthetic fabric, use special “antistatic agents” in the form of a spray; they can be bought at any large store. When washing clothes, add conditioners that have antistatic properties to the water.

When the sole of a shoe rubs against a synthetic floor covering or linoleum, static electricity also occurs. To avoid electric shock, use insoles made of cotton fabric, as cotton prevents the formation of static. Today in stores you can buy special disposable strips that have an antistatic effect.

For women whose hair becomes electrified under a hat in winter and does not “lay” correctly, there are special sprays, conditioners and shampoos that have an antistatic effect. You can also purchase a hair dryer that will neutralize static electricity using an ionizer.

One of the reasons for the appearance of static is too dry air in the room. If you use a heater, do not forget to humidify the air in the room; place a container filled with water next to the heating device. When you get home, try touching any metal object with the key - this way you can avoid electric shock if your body has been charged with static electricity. If you don't have a key or coin handy, use the back of your hand to touch objects that could cause electric shock.

Sometimes a discharge of static electricity can cause your computer to break down. To prevent shock, use a special wrist strap that is connected to a grounded part of the device. Quite often people get electrocuted when getting out of a car. To avoid electric shock, treat the mats and seats with an antistatic solution. When leaving the car, do not forget to touch it first with the key and then with your hands. You can also grab glass or the body of a car.

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So, answering the question: how to behave with a person who has just been electrocuted, the first thing that must be done is to separate the source of the current from the victim. If you do not do this, then the victim will continue to receive an electric shock, and the condition will gradually deteriorate, and besides, you yourself may receive an electric shock when touching the victim. It is necessary to pull the victim away from the power source; it is better to do this by holding him by a dry part of his clothing or wrapping his hands in a dry cloth. After the victim is isolated from the power source, you need to feel his pulse and check for breathing. The pulse can be felt best on the wrist joint on the side of the thumb. Using three fingers, press the radial artery to the bone, and with one of the fingers you will feel a pulsation. Pulsation can also be detected on the common carotid arteries, on the frontal and temporal arteries, on the arteries of the thigh, on the arteries in the popliteal cavity, on the arteries of the foot between the toes. The presence of breathing can be determined by listening directly, that is, by placing your ear to the victim’s mouth or nose, placing your hand on the chest (female type of breathing) or on the stomach (male type of breathing). If breathing is not heard and the activity of the respiratory muscles is low, then you can put a mirror, or, for example, a phone screen, to your mouth or nose; if the glass is fogged up, there is breathing. In the absence of respiratory movements and pulse, resuscitation measures must be carried out immediately. The most important measures are mechanical ventilation (artificial pulmonary ventilation) and chest compressions.

Let's start with artificial pulmonary ventilation and consider it as mechanical ventilation using the donor method. The method is not physically difficult, but psychologically difficult. It is necessary to overcome all fears in order to save a person’s life. The first thing to do is to place the patient in a supine position and first place some kind of cushion, you can even use clothing, at the level of the shoulder blades under the back and throw the victim’s head as far back as possible. Next, immediately and quickly examine the oral cavity. If a spasm of the masticatory muscles occurs, that is, the lower jaw does not drop, you need to use improvised objects: keys, a screwdriver, a stick, a pen refill, and so on. Now you must examine the victim’s oral cavity for the presence of mucus or vomit, which you must remove with your index finger, on which, for example, a handkerchief is wound. If his tongue has sunk to the roof of his mouth, then you need to turn it out with the same finger. Next, you yourself need to become right side from the victim. With your left hand you hold the victim’s head and at the same time pinch the nasal passages with it. You push the lower jaw forward and upward with your right hand. Well, then we take a deep breath, and tightly clasping the victim’s mouth with our lips, we exhale. For hygienic reasons, you can cover the victim's mouth with a clean cloth.

Indirect cardiac massage. It is performed to restore the functions of the heart to maintain its functioning and restore continuous blood flow. In our case, cardiac arrest is sudden. Signs accompanying this condition are paleness of the skin, sudden loss of consciousness, at first the pulse is threadlike, and then not palpable at all, that is, it disappears upon palpation on the carotid arteries, respiratory arrest, dilated pupils. Indirect heart massage is based on the fact that when the chest is compressed from the front, the heart itself, which is located between the spine and the sternum, is compressed, and when it is compressed, the blood accumulated in the heart is accelerated through the vessels, and when the heart is straightened, venous blood enters it. A more effective massage is considered to be one that is started slowly. The effectiveness of chest compressions can be determined by three factors: spontaneous breaths, constriction of the victim’s pupils and the appearance of pulsation in the common carotid arteries in time with the massage being performed. The hands of the person massaging must be positioned correctly (one palm rests on the xiphoid process, the other palm covers the back of the first and the fingers are raised when massaging so as not to compress the chest). Hands should be straightened during massage. The person performing the massage must stand high enough to apply pressure not only with his hands, but with his entire body. The force of pressure on the chest should be very large, so as to shift the sternum by 5 cm towards the spine. The massage should be maintained in such a way that at least 60 presses are performed per minute. If resuscitation is carried out by one person, then he should do 60 compressions per minute and 8 breaths per minute. If resuscitation is carried out by two people, then one person makes 5 presses, the other takes a powerful breath every 5 presses, and so on 12 cycles per minute. If, during artificial ventilation of the lungs, air does not enter the lungs but into the stomach, it is necessary to press on the epigastric region so that the air leaves the stomach and does not complicate resuscitation. The time for resuscitation measures to restore cardiac and respiratory function should not be less than 30 minutes before the ambulance arrives.

Update: October 2018

Electrical trauma is understood as damage to organs and systems due to injury electric shock. The main causes of death from electric shock are respiratory arrest and... After a strong electric shock, if a person survives, complications may develop from the cardiovascular, central nervous system, hearing, etc.

Most often, accidents occur when:

• ignorance or non-compliance with safety rules when using electrical appliances
• faulty household appliances in everyday life, electrical equipment in enterprises
• broken wires of high-voltage lines

The degree of damage to the human body depends on the way the current passes through the body, the strength and voltage of the current, the time of exposure, state of health, age, as well as the timeliness of providing first aid to the victim.

Types of electric shock

• electric shock (shock)- effects on the entire body, it does not cause burns, but leads to respiratory and/or cardiac paralysis
• electrical injury- damage to external parts of the body: electrical signs, burns, metallization of the skin.

The effects of electric currents on the body

• Thermal - due to the resistance of body tissues, electrical energy turns into thermal energy, causing electrical burns at characteristic points of entry and exit of current, which are called current signs. As thermal energy passes through tissue, it changes and destroys it.
• Electrochemical- leads to thickening and gluing of blood cells, the movement of ions and a change in the charge of protein molecules, the formation of vapors and gases. The affected tissues take on a cellular appearance.
• Biological - the functioning of the skeletal muscles of the heart, nervous and other systems is disrupted.

Symptoms of Electric Shock

• An unexpected fall of a person on the street or an unnatural throwing away from a power source by an invisible force
• Pronounced involuntary muscle contractions
• Loss of neurological functions - memory loss, impaired understanding of speech and vision, impaired orientation in space, changes in skin sensitivity, pupil reaction to light.
• Ventricular fibrillation and - irregular pulse and irregular breathing
  
• Burns on the body with sharply defined boundaries/

Signs of current on the skin

These are areas of necrosis of external tissues at the entry and exit points of electric current due to the transition of energy from electrical to thermal. Electrical burns are rarely limited to just marks on the skin; more often deeper tissues are damaged: muscles, tendons, bones. There are options when the lesion is localized under externally intact skin.

Consequences of electric shock

Nervous system

• loss of consciousness of varying degrees and duration;
• memory loss (retrograde amnesia);
• convulsions;
• weakness and weakness;
• and headache;
• violation of thermoregulation;
• flickering in the eyes, blurred vision.

When nerves are damaged, sensitivity and motor activity in the limbs change, trophism is disrupted, and pathological reflexes arise. The passage of current through the brain leads to convulsions and loss of consciousness; in some cases, damage to the respiratory center leads to respiratory arrest.

Current high voltage leads to profound disturbances in the activity of the central nervous system, inhibition of the respiratory center and regulation of cardiac activity, which leads to electrical lethargy, imaginary death, when it seems that breathing and heartbeat are absent, but in fact the activity of vital systems is reduced to a minimum. Timely initiation of resuscitation measures leads to successful restoration of systems operation.

Cardiovascular system

In most cases, disruptions in cardiac activity of a functional nature are observed:

• extrasystole;
• heart blockades.

Electrical shock to the heart muscle can lead to disruption of contractile function, leading to fibrillation, when the myocardial fibers begin to contract in an irregular rhythm, and the heart is unable to pump blood, which is equivalent in severity to cardiac arrest. Damage to blood vessels leads to bleeding.

Respiratory system

Inhibition or cessation of respiratory activity occurs due to damage to the respiratory center in the brain. The passage of current through the lung tissue leads to contusion and rupture of the lungs.

Sense organs

• hearing loss;
• touch disorder;
• rupture of the eardrum;
• middle ear injury;
• keratitis;
• choroiditis;
• cataract.

Striated and smooth muscles

• Spasm and contraction of muscle fibers can lead to cramps.
• Strong contraction of skeletal muscles can result in fractures of the spine and tubular bones.
• Spasm of the muscular layer of the vascular wall leads to increased pressure or myocardial infarction (in the case of spasm of the cardiac arteries).

Long-term complications

• CVS: disturbance of cardiac conduction, heart rhythm, obliterating endarteritis, arteriosclerosis;
• Nervous system: neuritis, encephalopathy, trophic ulcers, autonomic changes;
• Sense organs: cataracts, hearing and vision impairment;
• Musculoskeletal system: contractures (limited range of motion, inability to bend a limb), deformities.

Factors influencing the nature and severity of electrical injury

Kind and power and voltage

• More than 1000-volt current leads to severe damage, even death, without even touching the source, but being very close - within walking distance from the current source (the so-called “voltaic arc”).
• Alternating current is more dangerous than direct current
• Low frequency current affects internal organs
• High-frequency – the surface of the skin, without causing death.

The path of current through the body is a current loop

Electrical injury at home

• The most dangerous options are a complete loop, including 2 arms and 2 legs, arm-arm, since the current flows through the heart.
• No less dangerous is the hand-head, when the current passes through the brain.

Tissue resistance and current density

Current density refers to the amount of current passing through a unit area. Energy is concentrated when current passes through a smaller area. For example, if an electric current passes through the hand, the current density increases in the joint area.

Current duration

The longer the current lasts, the stronger the damage and the greater the likelihood of death.

• High voltage current leads to a sharp contraction of muscles, a person can even be thrown forcefully away from the current source.
• Low voltage current provokes muscle spasm, leading to prolonged involuntary gripping of the conductor by hands. Over time, skin resistance decreases, so it is necessary to interrupt the contact of the victim with the conductor as soon as possible.

External factors

The severity of the damage increases in conditions of high humidity (baths, bathrooms), as well as with electric shock in water, and the damage is stronger in salt water than in fresh water (the more dissolved salts in the water, the better the electrical conductivity of the water).

Body condition

The danger of electric shock increases against the background of exhaustion, alcohol or drug intoxication, chronic diseases, old age and childhood.

Why are there frequent cases of death in the bathtub due to contact with household appliances?

Damp and wet skin plays a fatal role. Such skin has less resistance to electrical energy and, accordingly, the damaging effect is always stronger even when exposed to devices with a seemingly low voltage of 110 V, for example, from a hair dryer or radio. In addition, a wet body practically guarantees the formation of the most dangerous current loop through vital organs.

Degrees of electric shock - classification

First aid algorithm for electric shock

All actions must be carried out very quickly, without delays, unnecessary conversations and reasoning. Timely provision of assistance can save lives and reduce the severity of electrical injury.

Whatever the condition of the victim, you should immediately call an ambulance or take the person to a medical facility. Death from electric shock can occur within a few hours. The external picture does not reflect internal damage after electric shock.

Stop contact of the victim with the current conductor as quickly as possible

Assess the state of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and whether the person is conscious

Lightly pat the cheek, ask basic questions. If necessary, carry out resuscitation measures:

• check for breathing: see if there are breathing movements of the chest, bring a mirror/glass to the mouth and nose, which will fog up when there is breathing, or a thin thread that should deviate when breathing;
• determine pulse on the carotid artery by pressing the area of ​​its projection with your fingers;
• clear the airway for further rescue: place the palm of one hand on the victim’s forehead, lift the chin with two fingers of the other hand, push the lower jaw forward and tilt the head back. If a fracture of the spine is suspected, these actions are prohibited; if the tongue sinks, it is permissible to fix it to the cheek with a pin.

Primary resuscitation of the victim (in the absence of pulse and breathing)

• Indirect cardiac massage- most effective within the first 3 minutes after cardiac arrest. The patient lies on his back on a flat surface, the rescuer's arms straightened at the elbows are located in the middle of the chest between the nipples. Perform 100 rhythmic compressions for 1 minute on the chest with a compression amplitude of 5-6 cm until the chest is completely straightened after pressing.
• Breathing mouth to mouth- two full exhalations every 30 presses on the projection of the heart. If impossible this method It is permissible to use only indirect cardiac massage.
• Duration of resuscitation measures- until the ambulance arrives or until signs of life appear (pink skin, pulse and breathing). In this case, the victim is turned on his side and an ambulance is awaited. Maximum duration – 30 minutes, further actions not advisable except for those patients exposed to cold temperatures.
• Drug treatment(carried out by an ambulance resuscitation team). If the above measures are unsuccessful, 1 ml of adrenaline 0.1% is injected within 2-3 minutes (intramuscular, intravenous or intracardiac); as well as calcium chloride 10% - 10 ml, strophanthin 0.05% - 1 ml, diluted in 20 ml of 40% glucose solution.
• Primary treatment of burns consists of applying a dry gauze bandage.
• Painkillers - while maintaining consciousness until the ambulance arrives, the person can be given painkillers and sedatives.
• Transportation of the victim to the hospital is carried out in a supine position and covered with a warm blanket.

Inpatient treatment after electric shock

• It is carried out in intensive care, and in the absence of signs of burn or electric shock - in the surgical department.
• The complex of treatment depends on the indications: from a simple toilet and dressing of burn wounds to complex surgical interventions to restore damaged organs and tissues.
• Even in the absence of local damage and satisfactory condition, the patient is in the department under observation to prevent long-term reactions from systems and organs.
• Serious electrical injuries require long-term rehabilitation.

Features of lightning damage

Damaging factors: electric current, sound and light energy, shock wave. The effects of lightning are similar to high voltage electric shock.

• Symmetrical injuries are characteristic: paresis of two limbs, paraplegia.
• The current signs have a bizarre, convoluted shape and are long lasting.

If you find a thunderstorm outside, you should not hide under trees, lean against metal objects, and especially not be in water.

Some facts

• The first officially recorded death from electric shock occurred in France, in 1879 - a carpenter became a victim of alternating current.
• The frequency of electrical injuries in developed countries is 2-3 cases per 100 thousand population.
• The risk group consists of young people 25-40 years old, and men are 4 times more likely to die from electrical injuries than women.

Protection against electric shock

Means of protection against electric shock:

• Insulating pads and supports;
• Gloves, caps, galoshes and dielectric mats;
• Portable grounding;
• Tools with insulated handles;
• Special protective clothing;
• Protective screens, partitions, chambers for protection against current;
• Warning signs and posters.

Operating rules:

• Minimize the time spent in the hazardous area near the devices;
• You should only approach current sources at a distance that is equal to the length of the insulating part of the protective equipment.
• When working with devices with voltages over 330 kV, the use of special clothing is mandatory.
• In conditions of rain and thunderstorms, all work must be suspended.

Electricity has given humanity a lot of convenience and comfort. His absence is perceived by most of us almost as a tragedy. However, often the price to pay for making life easier is an electric shock. It can come to you at any moment, even if you are not in the habit of blow-drying your hair while sitting in the bath. The wire came off the washing machine when you opened it - and you have an unpleasant feeling. But much more dangerous is a high-voltage electric shock, the consequences of which often lead to death. And neither caution nor attentiveness helps. Even the most vigilant person cannot notice a broken wire, quietly sparkling in tall grass or waiting in a puddle.

What you need to know about electric shock

First, let's define the incoming conditions. The current can be of different strengths, which depends on the applied voltage. In everyday life, if you are “jerked” by a faulty appliance, in most cases you should not expect severe consequences (unless you closed the circuit by inserting the plug into the socket). The main consequences are shock, nervous twitching that goes away on its own, and hair standing on end. However, if a person was exposed to even a weak current not for a second or two, but longer, then more serious symptoms may be observed: loss of consciousness, sweating, intermittent breathing, possibly burns at the point of contact with the conductor. For adults, this usually passes without further complications, but in the case where even a weak electric shock strikes a child, vigilance should be increased: it is difficult to predict how it will affect an immature organism.

It's a different matter if you've been exposed to high voltage current. It usually forms necrotic burns, both at the point of entry of electricity and at the point of its exit. Fainting, respiratory and cardiac arrest are almost always observed. In such cases, only the prompt actions of others can help the victim survive until the arrival of medical specialists.

Strictly prohibited actions

If there is a suspicion of an electric shock (the photo is given in the article), then there is a certain range of body movements that should not be undertaken under any circumstances.

1. A ban on touching a person until it is certain that he is no longer in contact with the source.
2. Relocation of the victim is allowed only in the most extreme cases. It is not uncommon for people to break bones when they fall. Not having all the information can cause harm.
3. If there is a sparking wire, you should not come close to it. The minimum distance is 6 meters.
4. If a person is hit by a broken cable, you should not walk towards it with wide strides. A stepping arc may appear between your legs, and you will find yourself next to the rescued person in a helpless state. You need to walk shallowly, trying to keep your feet on the ground.

No matter how cynical it may sound, when helping someone who has experienced an electric shock, you must first take care of your own safety. Otherwise, you can’t help the victim, and you can harm yourself.

Mandatory actions

In particular, if residual twitching of the body is observed, you need to turn off the device in which the short circuit occurred or try to push the wire away with something wooden. If you don’t see the wire, pull the person away, but also using a dielectric: pull him by his clothes, if they are dry, put on gloves or roll him away using the same stick.

The next step is to check your breathing and heartbeat. In the absence of one or the other, start stimulating them artificially.

It is also necessary to place the victim on his back and slightly raise his legs. In this case, a person can more easily withstand an electric shock and its consequences.

If the victim is conscious, it’s a good idea to give him a drop of Valocordin, even for children, just smaller ones, maximum 2-3 drops. And plenty of warm drinks, but not coffee or alcohol. The tea is better, too weak.

In severe cases: closed cardiac massage

Even in everyday conditions, there is a chance of getting a strong electric shock. In this case, the likelihood of cardiac arrest is very high. And before the ambulance arrives, his activity needs to be stimulated. In this case, we follow this algorithm.

1. We determine the position of the person who received the electric shock. If necessary, carefully adjust: position on your back, arms and legs straight.
2. Let's stand on the left.
3. We place one palm on the lower section of the sternum so that its entire main part is at the lower end of the chest. We place the palm of the other hand on top of this palm and begin to sharply push the chest with a frequency of once per second.

The work is very hard; if possible, it is advisable to often change with a partner, otherwise the pushes will not be strong enough. Symptoms of the effectiveness of the efforts made: constriction of the pupils, the appearance of a heartbeat, increased blood pressure.

The key to salvation: artificial respiration

Even if the heartbeat continues, the spasm can temporarily paralyze breathing, and this is a common symptom that causes electric shock. What to do in this case is obvious: you need to force the person to breathe.

1. If the victim wears removable dentures, they are removed.
2. Cover the patient's mouth and nose with a napkin.
3. As much air as possible is inhaled, which is blown forcefully into the mouth (in some cases, into the nose) of the person who has lost consciousness.

In a minute you need to manage to inhale air at least 14 times. If there is also indirect cardiac massage, then after every 20-30th compression.

Additional precautions for pregnant women

Women are burdened with responsibility not only for themselves, but also for the child they are carrying. Electric shock during pregnancy is dangerous even if it seems trivial. The basic principles of assistance remain the same, but in any case, the expectant mother should consult a doctor after the lesion, even if she feels well.