What is an electric shock?
An electric shock happens when a person touches an electrical energy source. Electrical current flowing through a part of the body will cause a shock.
What is electrocution?
Electrocution is death caused by electric shock.
Effects of an electric shock
Shock from current at low voltage: your blood pressure could rise or fall, your pulse gets faster, you may have difficulty breathing, you could lose consciousness and you may suffer a heart attack. You could also receive burns at the point the electricity enters and leaves your body on the way to the ground.
Shock from current at high voltage: this is always likely to cause death by electrocution.
What to do?
What to do if someone gets an electric shock?
- Never touch the person receiving the electric shock until the electricity is switched off and you are sure it is safe to do so.
- Danger: If you touch them, you could get an electric shock or be electrocuted yourself.
- Action: Shout for a grown up to help
If the injured person is CONSCIOUS and seems unharmed, he/she should be told to rest.
If in doubt, call a doctor.
If the injured person is UNCONSCIOUS, open the airway and check breathing; be ready to resuscitate if necessary. Place the casualty in the recovery position and Dial 999 for an ambulance.