ELECTROCUTION

Group 4 PowerPoint Presentation

 What is Electrocution
• Electrocution is death or serious injury caused by electric shock,
electric current passing through the body. The word is derived from
"electro" and "execution", but it is also used for accidental
death. The word is also used to describe non-fatal injuries due to
electricity.
 Types of Electrocution
• ELECTRICAL SHOCK
• LOSS OF MUSCLE CONTROL
• ELECTRICAL BURNS
• THERMAL BURNS
 Electrical Shock
• The severity of electric shock effect is dependent upon a number of
things including the amount of voltage received, the parts of the body
involved, the presence of moisture, and how damp the person was at the
time of exposure, and the length of time the current flowed through the
body.
• Static electricity shocks such as those that take us by surprise when
getting out of a car or simply walking across a synthetic fiber carpet can
pack a punch of more than 10,000 volts, but because the current flows for
only a very short time, these shocks are not so dangerous. But that does
not mean static electricity is safe: it can cause catastrophic fire or
explosion in certain circumstances.
 LOSS OF MUSCLE CONTROL

• Following an electric shock, victims often experience extremely

painful muscle spasms that can fracture and break bones, or
dislocate joints. Because of this loss of muscle control, very often
the person is unable to ‘let go’ of the live source, and escape the
electric shock. The impact of the shock can also cause a person to
fall from height, or be thrown into the path of hazards, such as
machinery, structures, and moving vehicles.
 ELECTRICAL BURNS

• As an electrical current passes through the human body it heats the

tissue along the path of the current flow which can result in serious,
disabling burns that often require major surgery. Electrical burns
caused as a result of shock are usually associated with higher
voltages but injuries can result from domestic electricity supplies if
the current flows for even slightly longer than a few fractions of a
second.
 THERMAL BURNS

• The biggest, most devastating fires and explosions can be caused by the smallest of
sparks.
• Be that from a single low voltage torch battery, or a spark from a damaged extension lead
in a paint booth, or gas storage area, the effects can be the same – injury, death, and
damage.
• Electrical overloading, faulty and damaged equipment, and lack of adequate maintenance,
can all to lead to overheating in electrical equipment, causing it to become hot enough to
burn and inflict injury.
• So, as can be seen, electricity poses a very real hazard, particularly in the workplace. For
this reason most employers implement rigid risk assessment programs that consider the
risks, hazards, and dangers in a given area or during a specific process, to keep electricity
safe and protect lives and property.
 Causes of Electrocution
• Faulty appliances.
• Damaged or frayed cords or extension leads.
• Electrical appliances coming in contact with water.
• Incorrect or deteriorated household wiring.
• Downed Powerlines.
• Lightning strike.
• If you touch a live electrical component, or wire, an
electrical current passes through the body and will try to
find a path to earth, and in doing so, blocks out the
electrical signals between the brain and the muscles,
resulting in what is commonly known as an electric shock.
An electric shock, in addition to being extremely painful
can result in
 Symptoms of electric shock

• The typical symptoms of an electric shock include :

Unconsciousness
• Difficulties in breathing or no breathing at all
• A weak, erratic pulse or no pulse at all
• Burns, particularly entrance and exit burns (where the electricity
entered and left the body)
• Sudden onset of cardiac arrest.
• Sometimes victims of electric shock may appear to
be unhurt, but they should still be treated as a
victim of electric shock. Some injuries and further
complications may not yet be obvious. An
examination in hospital is important after any
electric shock.
 First Aids
How to help a victim of electric shock
 Take these actions immediately while
waiting for medical help
• Turn off the source of electricity, if possible. If not,
move the source away from you and the person,
using a dry, non-conducting object made of
cardboard, plastic or wood.
 Take these actions immediately while
waiting for medical help
• Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of
circulation, such as breathing, coughing or
movement.
 Take these actions immediately while
waiting for medical help
• Try to prevent the injured person from becoming
chilled.
• Cover the injured person with dry blanket.
 Take these actions immediately while
waiting for medical help
• Apply a bandage. Cover any burned areas with a
sterile gauze bandage, if available, or a clean
cloth. Don't use a blanket or towel, because loose
fibers can stick to the burns.
 Take these actions immediately while
waiting for medical help
• The last thing to do after applying First Aid to the
victim is to call for an Ambulance to increase the
survival rate of the injured person
MEMBERS:
• Mana-ay
• Molo
• Nobleza
• Nunay
• Oquiana