Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with electrical burn, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Someone has burns from electrical contact — entry and exit wounds with possible internal injury.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Power off. Call 112. CPR if needed. Cool burns with water. No home remedies.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Charred entry wound on hand with exit wound on foot.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person collapsed after shock with burn marks.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Metallic taste, muscle pain, or confusion after electrical contact.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Electrical current creates deep tissue damage along its path — skin burns understate injury.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Heart and muscles may be injured even with small surface wounds.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Confirm power is off at source.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 on speaker.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Check airway and breathing.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Start CPR if not breathing normally.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cool minor surface burns with running water — avoid wetting person if shock risk remains.
When and how to get professional help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Treat as trauma — power off, call 112, cool burns, monitor breathing. Internal injury is invisible.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 — electrical burns are trauma emergencies.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Report voltage type if known and whether CPR in progress.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Prepare to relay entry and exit wound locations.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT underestimate small entry wound — internal path may be severe.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give food or drink if altered mental state.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT use ice on electrical burns.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Small burn mark means minor injury
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Electricity damages tissue beneath skin along entire current path. Internal injury can be life-threatening.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Mixed chemicals
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Bleach and acid, bleach and ammonia, or other cleaners were mixed and fumes are rising.
CO alarm
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Your carbon monoxide detector is beeping or alarming.
CO poisoning
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — People show signs of carbon monoxide poisoning from heater, generator, or enclosed fire.
Child electrical shock
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A child has touched an electrical socket, bitten a cord, or pulled a live plug.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Remove jewelry near burns before swelling.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep person still and warm except burned areas.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Burn center and cardiac monitoring typically required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All electrical burns with shock history need hospital admission.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Delayed treatment for heart damage or deep muscle necrosis.