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Learn the risks of electrical burns and how to provide first aid. Electric burns can cause internal damage to nerves, muscles, and organs. Find out how to protect yourself and effectively treat different degrees of burns. Immediate medical attention is crucial in electrical burn cases.
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What’s at Stake? An electrical burn occurs when skin meets an electrical voltage. It does not always leave a significant burn to the skin, but the electricity can cause significant internal damage to nerves, muscles and internal organs.
What’s the Danger? • Electricity creates a lot of heat – major burns to muscle, nerves, organs • Arcs generate up to 7000F – severe/fatal burns • Low voltage burns – widespread superficial blisters – but small burn site doesn’t mean minor burn
How to Protect Yourself • Keep yourself safe • Call 911 for injury and utility company to turn off power • Don't touch person still in contact with electrical current • Stay at least 20 feet (6 meters) away — farther if wires jumping and sparking • Don't move a person unless in immediate danger
How to Protect Yourself • General burn care • Call 911 if: • Burn penetrates all layers of skin • Burn covers large area of body • Leathery, charred skin - white, brown, black patches • Hands, feet, face, or genitals are burned • Person is an infant or a senior • Burned areas swell quickly – remove restrictive items • Don’t break blisters or apply butters/ointments
How to Protect Yourself • First-degree burns • Least serious – outer layer of skin • Redness, swelling, pain • Hold burned area under cool water • Cover with sterile non-adhesive bandage • OTC pain relievers
How to Protect Yourself • 2nd-degree burns • Top 2 layers of skin • Red, white, splotchy skin, swelling, pain, blisters • Immerse in cool water 10-15 minutes • Don’t apply ice or immerse large severe burns in water • Call 911 and keep victim safe – don’t remove clothes if stuck • Cover burn(s) loosely with sterile, non-stick bandage • Elevate burned area - raise the wound above heart
How to Protect Yourself • 3rd-degree burns • All layers of skin, fat, muscle, bone • Call for emergency medical help immediately • Burned areas - charred black or white • Lay victim flat – elevate feet/burn area if safe • Keep victim warm and calm • Treat injuries and for shock until help arrives
Final Word Electrical burns may have very little effect on the skin, unlike burns from a heat source, however, they are very serious. The electrical current can also cause a burn deep under the skin, where the damage cannot be seen. Anyone who suffers an electrical burn should be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible.
