What to do after Electric Shock

Call 111 now.

If you have suffered an electrical shock (or you know someone who has) contact emergency services immediately or go to the emergency room at the hospital. Electrical shocks are very dangerous – even if someone appears to be fine, there could be internal damage.

If you want more information about what to do after electric shock, read the rest of this article.

What to do After Electric Shock

The first thing you need to do is call emergency services and explain what has occurred. If they advise you to do so, you should turn off the power to the entire building. This will help to ensure nobody else is injured.

Please note: If there is any water around the victim or wet areas in the building, do not come into contact with it. Do not touch the victim until emergency services arrive and you are sure that the power is off.

If you are in a remote area and do not have immediate access to emergency services, you can help the victim in the following manner:

Turn the power off
Check for breathing – if you know CPR you can administer it if necessary
If the victim is responsive and breathing, you can cool any burns with cool running water. Do not administer any oils or creams.
Talk calmly to the person

What to do Before an Electric Shock

Before you’re in a situation where you have to Google “what to do after electric shock”, there are some preventative measures you can take.

At Jim’s Test & Tag, we specialise in safety advice for businesses. If you want to avoid electrical shock at home you can take a look at this handy guide for more tips.

If you own or operate a business, you have an obligation to minimise the chance of electric shock. You can do this in a number of ways:

Electrical appliance testing will catch out faulty appliances before they cause harm. In New Zealand, it is a requirement to conduct regular inspections in your business.
Don’t overload power boards and adaptors
Only use a licensed electrician to conduct electrical work
Keep water away from electrical appliances
Buy power boards with inbuilt RCD switches
Dispose of damaged equipment

If you can hear crackling noises or have noticed your appliances and cords getting hot, get rid of them. Buying new items is worth the cost of safety.

Symptoms of Electric Shock

If you suspect that someone has had an electrical shock, you can keep your eye out for these symptoms. As we said earlier, not all symptoms are visible so it will always be necessary to consult with a medical professional.

Major Electric Shock Symptoms